“Vintage Pairs” Blind Tasting

It’s time for another session of our “Vintage Pairs” blind tasting series. The idea is simple – we put together a tasting of 10 wines and serve them blind. We guess where the wine is from and what it might be, reveal it, enjoy it, and talk about it. In each pair the two wines will be either the same wine in a different vintage (our classic approach), or the same producer and same vintage, but two cuvées or vineyards from the same grape variety(ies); or the same vineyard and same vintage, but two different producers of the same wine. As we begin each pair, we will announce which type of pair it is. We work deductively together to get to the answer of producer, vintage and name of the wine. Our goal is to select a range of wines that offer a bit of learning too, so wines you know combined with wines you may not know. Sometimes we bring in wines that aren’t on our list too, so studying our list won’t necessarily help you find the answer. This tasting is fun and interactive and appeals to both the beginner and advanced wine taster.

Here is what we served at the last 3 events –

Session Forty (16th December 2021)
2003 Philipponnat - Champagne 'Clos de Goisses', magnum
2004 Philipponnat - Champagne 'Clos de Goisses', magnum
2013 Rhys Vineyards - Alpine Vineyard Pinot Noir
2013 Rhys Vineyards - Horseshoe Vineyard Pinot Noir
1983 Château Magdelaine 
1983 Opus One
2000 Maison M. Chapoutier - Ermitage 'Le Pavillon'
2001 Maison M. Chapoutier - Ermitage 'Le Pavillon'

Session Forty-one (15th June 2022)
1988 Piper Heidsieck Rare 
2002 Piper Heidsieck Rare
2014 Caballus Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 
2015 Caballus Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
2008 Maison M. Chapoutier Ermitage 'Le Pavillon'
2008 Thierry Allemand Cornas Chaillots 
1985 Château Ducru Beaucaillou (Ex Château) 
1985 Château Léoville-Las Cases 
1989 Château Coutet 'Cuvée Madame' 
1989 Château Suduiraut Crème de Tête 

Session Forty-two (10th August 2022)
2019 Domaine Georges Vernay - Condrieu 'Les Chaillees de l'Enfer'
2019 Domaine Georges Vernay - Condrieu 'Coteau de Vernon'
2016 Maison Joseph Drouhin - Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru
2014 Maison Joseph Drouhin - Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru
2013 Stonyridge Vineyard - Larose
2010 Stonyridge Vineyard - Larose
2015 Vieux Chateau Certan
2010 Vieux Chateau Certan

Of course, the wine selection for Tuesday 25th October will be completely different. But I assure you it will be interesting, and good value for the modest ticket price – we won’t reveal in advance what we will be tasting as that spoils part of the fun.

The event is a tasting – not a dinner – and so we start at 6.30pm prompt, and are finished by 8pm, so you can get to your dinner afterwards. Think of this as the most fun ‘cocktail hour’ of the month!