Local Event

Bordeaux Tasting, Seventh Annual, Institute Of Masters Of Wine - Sold Out!

This event has ended.

View Current Events from This Host
    Fri, February 7, 2020 (6:30 PM - 8:30 PM)

The Westin Verasa Hotel, Napa CA
1314 McKinstry Street
Napa, CA 94559
view map

Cost: $100

The seventh annual Institute of Masters of Wine (North America) Bordeaux Tasting will be held at the Westin Verasa Hotel in Napa on Friday February 7, 2020. This event mirrors the long-established Annual Bordeaux Tasting in London, England, and will showcase wines from the Grands Crus Classés of the Médoc and their equivalents from the Right Bank and Graves (including Sauternes). As is customary, the vintage to be tasted is five years prior to the year of the event (2015) allowing for professional assessment of the wines at a more accessible and revealing stage in their evolution.

Expectations were very high for the 2015 vintage, largely due to the quality of its numerical forebears - such as the fine vintages of 2005, 1995, and 1985. And initially the weather did indeed oblige, providing very warm and very dry conditions leading to an early budbreak and efficient flowering. But some vineyards suffered in the prolonged drought-like conditions, while heavy August rains - which continued in certain areas through September and early October - mean that the vintage is not quite as consistent as hoped, even though many great wines were undoubtedly produced. Vintage generalizations can often be misleading, but the wines of the right bank may have a slight edge over their Cabernet Sauvignon-based neighbors across the Gironde. The best reds of the vintage show full ripeness of fruit (with accompanying high alcohol levels), aromatic complexity, and silkiness of tannins. The 2015 vintage is also an excellent one for the sweet wines of Sauternes, where the onset of pourriture noble came very early, leading to rich, opulent wines but without any lack of freshness.

The IMW(NA) Bordeaux Tasting will allow wine professionals the opportunity to taste a comprehensive range of crus classés from the most prestigious appellations of Bordeaux. This event is deliberately limited in attendee numbers to ensure that the wines are tasted in optimal conditions.  Since its purpose is primarily educational rather than promotional, the tasting is in a walk-around, self-poured format. There will be a number of Masters of Wine in attendance who will be prepared to respond to your questions and comments.

The tasting is offered in one single session from 6:30pm – 8:30pm. Tickets are $100.00 for general admission with a limited number of reduced-rate tickets available through January 1st to MWs, current MW students, full-time wine industry professionals and registered WSET Diploma students. Promo codes for reduced rate tickets are available by emailing Nancy Johnson at njohnson@mastersofwine.org. Tickets are non-refundable but transferable.

This event sells out quickly: please purchase early to avoid disappointment. Questions may be addressed to Nancy Johnson at njohnson@mastersofwine.org.

Tags

  • Event
  • wine
  • The Westin Verasa Hotel
  • Napa CA
  • Napa
  • Things to do in Napa, CA
  • California Wine & Food Events
  • Napa Wine & Food Events