Archives: Great Tastings over the Years

I have had the good fortune to participate in many extraordinary vertical tastings of the world's most famous wines. Some of these have occurred in my role as an importer, and others are due to my activities as a Master of Wine. I have looked through old files and have assembled many of my handwritten notes to display on this page. As I put the notes in a more polished form, I was reminded of some truly amazing tasting experiences!

A Fabulous Range of Fortified Wines - London

        Half a Century of Hermitage "La Chapelle" 

1998 - 1949

Marques de Murrieta -

Eight Decades of Rioja History 1981 - 1901

Vega Sicilia, Spanish Legend 2008 - 1942

Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac 1990 - 1962

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien &

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac 1995 - 1959

Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac 1995 - 1957

Château d'Yquem, Sauternes 2005 - 1959 

Château Palmer, Margaux 2001 - 1961

Château Margaux - Experimental Lots

Louis Jadot Corton-Charlemagne &

Corton Pougets 1996 - 1964

Domaine de Chevalier, Graves 2000 - 1937

Richebourg

from Gros (various), Leroy & Romanée-Conti

1995 - 1961

Domaine Armand Rousseau, Gevrey-Chambertin 2005 - 1983

Hugel, Alsace -

Vendange Tardive & Sélection de Grains Nobles  1998 - 1976

Sassicaia 1998 - 1970

Giuseppe Rinaldi, Barolo 1990 - 1968

Opus One 2006 - 1979

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cask 23

1996 - 1977

California Cult Cabernets

100 Years of Vin Doux Naturel 1998 - 1875

My Rating Scale

* poor, possibly flawed

** below average or deficient

*** good, well-made

**** excellent

***** exceptional

(  ) denotes added potential with bottle aging

My system is not perfect, but it serves to establish a general ranking in terms that are equitable, and it allows for any high-achieving wine to be recognized for its merit.