Redefining the Fine Wine Experience: Wanderthirst, Dujac Paulée & La Gaffelière Dinners

If there’s one thing I’ve been thinking about lately, it’s how much the fine wine world still leans on tradition, sometimes to the point of predictability. There’s a place for reverence, of course. But does that mean every wine dinner needs to feel like a museum tour? We don’t think so.

At Vinum, we’ve always taken pride in our expertise and the incredible access we have to estates, vintages, and people. But lately, we’ve been asking ourselves: how do we make this world feel more alive? More open, more relevant and ultimately, more human?

Over the past few weeks, we’ve hosted different events that, to me, really show what we’re trying to do: honour the wines, respect the craft, but put the focus back where it belongs – on connection.

Wanderthirst: Curious Minds, Serious Bottles (Singapore)

Let’s start with Wanderthirst, our new series for the next generation of wine lovers. The launch dinner at Praelum Wine Bistro was something I’ve wanted to do for a while, to create a space where people could discover great wines without needing to recite the Côte d’Or from memory.

We poured everything from Les Champs Libres Blanc (Chateau Lafleur) to Sandrone’s Barolo Aleste, and yes, people asked questions. Lots of them. About regions, winemaking, whether the 2008 Clinet was meant to taste like that (it was). And that’s exactly the point.

It wasn’t a lecture. It was a dinner table. And it reminded me that curiosity, when respected and encouraged, is far more powerful than expertise thrown around the room.

Chateau La Gaffelière at Noble Rot Mayfair (United Kingdom)

If you’re going to do Bordeaux differently, Noble Rot is where you do it. Equal parts wine temple and effortless hangout, it’s where cult winemakers and curious drinkers cross paths over whatever’s open.

We brought Château La Gaffelière into this mix for an intimate dinner. Thomas Soubès (Commercial Director) guided us through a lineup that spanned 2022 to 1998 – with plenty of personality in between: 2016 for poise, 2009 for plushness, 1998 for that “oh yes” moment as well as a Saint-Emilion chardonnay (yes, you read it correctly!)

There was no flash but just a handful of serious bottles in a room full of people who didn’t need convincing. If this is Bordeaux 2025, we’re here for it.

Dujac La Paulée: Burgundy and the Joy of Sharing

Our Dujac Gala Paulée kicked off with a horizontal of the recently-shipped 2022 vintage – thankfully, a year generous enough to provide us with sufficient stock to furnish such a tasting. In-house MW Matthew Hemming gave a brief introduction and spoke about 2022’s place within the ‘new normal’ of vintages in the era of climate change.

Whilst an intensely solar year, 2022 is blossoming into something more akin to 2002 than 2018. We began with Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Combottes, from a site surrounded by Grand Crus, which made for a fascinating comparison with the following Vosne-Romanée Aux Malconsorts – for many, a Grand Cru in all but name. The Vosne showed greater precision and focused refinement.

The Échezeaux, from a plot of just 0.69 hectares, was on electric form and was one of Matthew’s highlights of the tasting. The finale saw a comparison of the flagship crus: Clos Saint-Denis and Clos de la Roche. Mischievously, Matthew had our guests vote for their preference, with the power and volume of CdlR just tipping the balance. In true French style, we finished with Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières.

With a superb Cantonese meal, we shared wines generously contributed by our esteemed guests, supplemented by a few treasures from our chairman’s cellar. There were many highlights, but the 2015 Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts and a young but glorious 2021 Clos de la Roche remain firmly in the memory. Rogue ‘infiltrators’ in the form of Ramonet’s 2014 Clos des Caillerets and a beautiful 1996 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet from Leflaive were, of course, allowed in through the back door.

It was Burgundy at its best: precise, expressive, and deeply generous. But more than that, it was a moment of true sharing – bottles passed around the table, stories swapped, and a room full of people who didn’t just love wine, but loved what it brings out in people. That’s the kind of evening we try to create. That’s what a Paulée should be.

So what’s the thread that ties all this together?

For me, it’s this: whether you’re new to wine or neck-deep in DRC allocations, what we’re all really looking for is connection. Not just to the wines, but to the people who make them, pour them, and share them. The best events, and the best bottles, are the ones that bring people together.

At Vinum, we’re lucky to have deep roots in the fine wine world. But we also believe in shaking things up a bit. Respectfully. With integrity.

These three events all reminded me why we do this: not to impress, but to connect. If you were there, thank you for being part of it. If you weren’t, come next time. Get in touch with us to stay tuned about our next events!