Palates differ from person to person – fact, regardless of race – it is subjective in its essence. Scores, even by celebrated critics such as Parker, can provide guides and impressions, but ultimately you depend upon an instinct and knowledge you build up by tasting wines yourself. I have been disappointed by RP 90+ wines and I quickly learnt to accept this as differences in my palate to his. To be fair to Parker, he asserts this fact vigorously himself in his publications.

So forget scores and standardisation – if you want to build up an Asian (or Hong Kong) wine culture – you should simply encourage more ordinary people to enjoy it – make it accessible & as affordable as possible.

There are no universal benchmarks of scoring now, so why does Asia have to set one? Don’t confuse expenditure at wine auctions with consumption levels and penetration.

A Burgundy exporter told me that women were in the majority at wine dinners he hosted in Hong Kong, confirming a recent observation. Rene’s comments suggest that strong female attendance at these events isn’t replicated in the shops, but is service – or lack of it – the real reason?