Robb Report Malaysia recently celebrated time with an appreciation of horology by one of Geneva’s most exceptional watchmakers Vacheron Constantin, as well as time in the form of a three-decade-old Château Petrus, the enigmatic star of Bordeaux. At Ultime Atelier & Boulangerie, a fine-dining venue in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, an intimate dinner attended by select guests took place in a space transformed by heightened anticipation for the night ahead.
In this private dining room, they were welcomed by Ultime’s proprietor and chef Kenny Ng as well as Gael Porte, Vacheron Constantin’s managing director for Southeast Asia and Oceania. Here, in a space bedecked by aesthetic touches to recall the purity and essence of time, guests discovered the spectacular range of Vacheron Constantin’s 2023 novelties, from the Overseas Moon Phase Retrograde Date and Traditionnelle Tourbillon with its sunburst green dial, to revival pieces like the Historiques 222 and the iconic 1921.
Over the course of the intimate dinner, complementary highlights of gastronomy and wine added interest to the evening. Elucidating the vintages was sommelier Roderick Wong, a 30-year veteran of the scene and founder of the Sommelier Association of Malaysia.
Over five courses, the flow of wines kicked off with Epernay’s crisp and floral Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque Champagne, paired with uni capellini and Szechuan peppercorns. This was followed by the full-bodied and fruity La Clarte de Haut-Brion Blanc, paired with a King Beluga caviar and lobster consomme as well as a rare tasting of the fresh and elegant Margaux du Château Margaux, released to only select restaurants.
After a chardonnay and lime caviar granita, the main show arrived with the A5 Wagyu from Miyazaki and the evening’s vinous highlight, the Château Pétrus of 1994. For Wong, his tasting notes of this nearly three-decades-old vintage highlighted the perfume of dark berries and iron accents with spicy oak, while the lush, sweet mouthfeel and suave tannins segued into raspberries, mocha and chocolate, which brought up the rear for a redolent finish.
The evening reached a crescendo with stories of Vacheron Constantin’s legacy that began in 1755. Stories of fine craftsmanship and human hands, responsible for the many representations of achievement on the evening—gastronomy, horology and oenology—were ably represented by their physical manifestation. There was also time to welcome yet another Bordeaux star, a delicious Château Rieussec Sauternes Grand Cru Classe, with its perfume of acacia flowers and candied fruits on the palate to polish the night off in style.
Video: Wynner Cheong from Metal Cut Films
