We have now completed round two of our Vin d’émotion photo series … awaiting another round with great pleasure in May 2027. Stay ready and tuned for more photos by the captivating Dr. Chua Yang.
The last photo interview was with the for-me legendary winemaker Frédéric Mugnier. I have to be honest: great respect for Frédéric, as he is not afraid to break the conventions, and the questionnaire, for that matter.
The interview was done in the office of Frédéric Mugnier and was a strong reminder and illustration of what wine does best: facilitating the contact between people, enhancing the dialogue, often with the wines just being the facilitator and not the main topic. The wine at the table was the 1998 Frédéric Mugnier Chambolle Les Fuées … not by any means in focus … but facilitating with its elegance and ease. And, oh yes, drinking very well.
Frédéric Mugnier had beforehand revealed that he would challenge my questionnaire quite a bit, as he doesn’t like to try to appraise and point out and rank his favorite wines. The most memorable moments are between people rather than the wine itself – so how the wine facilitated and made people feel would be far more valuable than how perfect the wine was.
This is an important point that I can recognise from many years of drinking and tastings … and it perhaps also underlines that rating wines on a 100p scale is quite doubtful… or even pointless, some would say.
In my mind, some basic qualities like freshness, tension and energy might be easier to appreciate, and these core qualities are often very closely tied to your liking of the wine. I would go so far as to say that these basic qualities could in fact be seen as the core elements of vin d’émotion …
This is, however, me interpreting the wines … but I feel like the core value of the wine must include fresh and energetic, frais et léger …, and I have therefore emphasised this in the vin d’émotion definition ….
As always, it was a treat to speak with Frédéric Mugnier … it always leaves you in awe and in doubt … but somehow also feeling enriched by new thoughts. Did we succeed?
Here is a collection of new photos of Frédéric Mugnier at Domaine J.-F. Mugnier … more will come
Photos taken by Dr Chua Yang … 📸 @drchuayang
Some of the photos are taken by Dr Chua Yang … 📸 @drchuayang
Dr Chua Yang
Dr Chua Yang is a specialist Obstetrician and Gynecologist.
She is also a published photographer, author, Chinese calligrapher, and advocate for health and happiness. She has held 3 solo photography exhibitions and participated in numerous international joint photography exhibitions.
- A true vin d’émotion – a Burgundy of passion
- A truly hedonistic wine – lively and enjoyable
- A vivacious wine for pure indulgance
- A potential vin d´émotion - frais et léger