MaD U3A Wine Appreciation Group October Meeting

The Judgement of Paris

Our October Wine Tasting meeting was modelled on the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, when (to the astonishment of many French wine experts) Californian wines were rated more highly than the equivalent French wines in a blind tasting. At a follow up event 30 years later, a comparison of the original red wines, now 30 years older, resulted in another win for the Californian wines.  

No scores this month, just comments. All wines were bought at Majestic Wines.

Sauvignon Blanc

Our French SB was Carrelet Confidence 2022 (12.5%) and the Californian SB was Bread and Butter “Winemaker’s Selection” (13%). The French wine had a pronounced scent of apples, a palate of stone fruits and mineral and good length with acidity – lovely flavours. The Californian had a slight nose, nice appley palate with a soft, sweet edge, and a long and less acidic finish, another very flavoursome wine. Both SBs were lovely although quite different from each other, and it was hard to choose between them.

Chardonnay

Our French was Definition by Majestic White Burgundy 2022 (13%) and our Californian was Toast and Honey Chardonnay 2021 (13%). The Burgundy had a very light nose, and a nutty, oaky, rounded palate with a very long, spicy, creamy and lightly tannic finish rather like hazelnuts. The Californian wine had a honeyed nose, a palate of vanilla and baked apples with some oakiness, and a lovely long finish. Both were excellent, but some preferred the sweeter, more honeyed Toast and Honey while others liked the nutty, oaky flavours of the Burgundy.

Cabernet Sauvignon Blends

Our French wine was a classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite “Reserve Speciale” 2020 (13%) from Medoc. From California came Bread and Butter “Winemakers’ Selection” Red Blend 2021 (13%), blending Cabernet Sauvignon with Grenache and several other red wines in smaller quantities. The French wine had a classic hint of stable on the nose, a softly tannic palate with spice and damsons and a smooth finish with fading tannins. Our Californian wine had a sweeter flavour profile – caramel and red fruits on the nose, vanilla and dark fruits on the palate and a finish of sweet spices, and was very quaffable. Once more, the preferences fell between those who liked the more tannic Bordeaux and those who liked the more jammy flavours of Bread and Butter.

We wondered whether the Californian wines were designed for Americans with a sweeter tooth than Europeans. It was interesting to smell and taste the contrast between wines made from the same grapes in different parts of the world.  However, apart from the ABCs (Anything But Chardonnay) among us, we all really enjoyed everything we tasted this afternoon.

The MaD U3A Wine Appreciation group meets on the third Wednesday of each month, starting at 2:30 pm. The group is currently full, but if you would like to put your name on the waiting list please contact either Sue or Maggie by email

Although the in-person group is full all members are welcome to join the MaD Wine Bar which meets via Zoom most Wednesdays at 6.00 pm.

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Cheers from the Wine Appreciation Group