Paris Tasting 'discredited': rival September 21, 2006
Libby Banks
In a bid to rival the Judgement of Paris tastings, a group of wine tasters called the Grand Jury Européen is to hold a tasting of Napa Valley and Bordeaux wines next week.
François Mauss, founder of the GJE, said he was 'not satisfied' by the celebratory 30th anniversary tasting that took place in May this year.
Dual locations and an unfair selection of vintages and tasters all discredited the results, he said.
The blind tasting, which takes place on 28 September at Château Guiraud in Bordeaux, will consist of 16 Cabernet-Merlots from Napa and 16 Cabernet-Merlots from Bordeaux, all from the 1995 vintage.
Mauss said, 'We did choose a vintage which has a great reputation in both areas, with a slight advantage for Napa, so, we cannot be accused of favouring Bordeaux.'
Although not identical, the line-up will feature many of the same producers as those in the Paris tastings including Ridge Monte Bello, the wine that was overall winner in the May re-run this year.'
Panels will comprise 15 continental European tasters and 'up to 15 tasters from Anglo-Saxon countries'.
Michel Bettane, Mike Steinberger from Slate magazine, auctioneer Peter Morrell, and UK experts Richard Bampfield MW and Michael Schuster are on the list to attend.
Mauss claims that the purpose of the exercise is not to stir up bad feeling between the two regions but to find out once and for all whether there is a 'wide, narrow or zero difference' in taste between US and UK tasters and continental European tasters.
Mauss, who has carved his reputation as a dissenting voice in the wine world, was also at the centre of a landmark two-year libel battle in 2002 after describing Beaujolais Nouveau as 'vin de merde', in a French magazine.
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This whole thing is crap. The tasting happened twice already. These guys are pitiful. Harry Tucker, Georgia, USA
The French just don't know when to give up… Instead of looking for ways to win this very specific competition (that doesn't mean anything about the great wines both countries have been producing for the last 30 years) focus on ways to have a continuous way to improve the wines in the future (some Bordeaux wineries have already start doing it for the last few years and the results are obvious…). Gaby Israel, Toronto, Canada
I wonder why I was not invited to be a judge at this event? Steven Spurrier
This rivalry is quickly becoming a bad cliché. And "whether there is a 'wide, narrow or zero difference' in taste between US and UK tasters and continental European tasters." has got to be one of the silliest questions to ever come from a wine professional. The answer begs the question. I hope someone is at least making some money off of it. Stetson Robbins, Canada
I hope we all know that the 'tasters' from European countries are also Anglo Saxons. Did I miss something in the translation ? Who cares ? Let's just celebrate the great wines beiing produced in all countries! Michael Venezia 29th vintage in the wine industry.
It is not a matter of being the first. It is not a matter of being the best. The idea of the Paris tasting was to open eyes and doors for wines of merit, not consolidated fame. The Reenactment took place to answer the long lasting question wether those Californian wines were able to age gracefully.
It is utterly ridiculous to focus any brain activity on wether there are winners or losers. The important point is to keep in mind that you have to evaluate a wine and wine regions for what they are, not its past victories (recent or not). There was a time when the great wines could only be French. Let's not fall for the same mistake
again. Enjoy wines, not labels. Drink wines, not scores.
It is important to be attentive for everything that is well crafted and to keep your taste buds and heart open. We should value diversity in wine. After all, it seems a waste of time and opportunity if you choose not go on your own personal quest in trying to find out the perfect juice you each one of your moods or meals.
But lets say that you choose to reevaluate both countries. It would be only fair if you use the same parameters of evaluation. Using a different set of tasters changes the hole purpose of comparing the events. Not inviting Mr. Spurrier raises some unsettling issues. Paulo Prado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
About GJE tasting between Napa and Bordeaux:
So strange to read only bad comments. So strange to read Mr Spurrier comment: did he invited someone from GJE, apart of Michel Bettane? So strange to accept such comments without giving a fair chance to, at least , give some pieces of answers. Maybe not so strange… Just some usual habits? Amicalement, François Mauss
Honestly, though. The re-enactment should be discredited? And why wasn't Mr.Spurrier invited to this new tasting? The results being what they were, cannot the French come to terms with, that in the changing world, that California can compete and sometimes win? Bordeaux is wonderful, but one has to
look closer to home as to why French vineyards are being grubbed up and the American wine industry continues to enjoy unprecedented growth. The proof is in the pudding because the tastings are blind. John Ciambrano, New York
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This whole thing is crap. The tasting happened twice already. These guys are pitiful. Harry Tucker, Georgia, USA
