“The Judgement of Paris, The Historic 1976 Tasting that Revolutionized Wine” is the title of a book written by George M Taber, who was the only reporter present at the now mythical tasting in Paris. The event was a blind tasting, organised by Stephen Spurrier and Patricia Gallagher, at which a panel of some of the most influential French wine experts shocked the industry and the world (as well as themselves) by choosing relatively unknown red and white California wines over France's best. The tasting was hosted in 1976, which happened to be the bicentennial of the American War of Independence. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Judgment of Paris and we shall revisit the comparison of American Chardonnay and White Burgundy and American Cabernet Sauvignon and left bank Bordeaux, in the format of a blind tasting.
We will taste four Chardonnay and four Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines, divided equally between American and French wines. The tasting will be presented ‘single blind’, so you will know the identity of the two wines in each pair, but not which is which. We are not able to produce the exact wines that were tasted in 1976, but we are presenting four of the wines (two white and two red) from the original tasting (in more recent vintages). We will see if members and their guests can spot which is the American wine and which is the French wine in each pair and will ask you to indicate your preference before we ‘reveal’. The wines to be presented are the following (the wines from the original tasting are marked with **):
Château Montelena, Chardonnay (napa Valley) 2022 **
Maison Joseph Drouhin, Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Blanc 2020 **
Varner, Bee Block Chardonnay (Santa Cruz Mountains) 2014
Domaine Blain Gagnard, Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets 2014
Eisele Vineyard, Altagracia (Napa Valley) 2016
Château Branaire Ducru 2016
Mayacamas, Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) 2005 **
Château Montrose 2005**
This tasting presents a rare opportunity to taste a range of outstanding wines in a format similar to that of the original Judgment of Paris. The evening should be enlightening and, above all, great fun. Tickets for this tasting are priced at £90 for members and £100 for guests.
If you are using the Society's website to purchase tickets for the first time, you are encouraged to register to make future ticket purchases even easier. The Society operates an open seating policy at tastings, so if you are coming as a group, please arrive early to ensure you are able to sit together.
If you have any questions, please contact the organiser, Steve Thierbach, on thierbach@btinternet.com.