Find out more about the world-renowned names that make up the 2014 Decanter World Wine Awards judging line-up in this Q&A series.
Jasper Morris MW is Berry Bros. & Rudd’s Burgundy buyer, previously selling his importing business, Morris & Verdin Ltd, to the company. He contributes to The World of Fine Wine and was responsible for all the Burgundy entries in the Oxford Companion to Wine.
Read our interview with Jasper Morris MW below…
☆ Which year or decade do you wish you’d been born in and why?
I am pretty happy with reality which is 1957. But 1947-1949 would have been pretty good as well, both for the wines and the optimum permission of missing the war and national service, getting all the benefits of the welfare state and early retirement.
☆ How old were you when you had your first wine ‘moment’ and what was it?
I have two: drinking too much Provence rosé at 14, and discovering properly fine wine at university at 18.
☆ How many bottles do you have in your cellar and what is your most recent addition?
I have enough to keep me going for the rest of my life and have a bit left over for a wake. Recent additions include a range of wines from the Jura plus some 2012 Burgundies which have yet to arrive physically.
☆ How many years have you been working in the wine industry and what was your first job?
I have been in the trade since 1979, with my first job at a retail shop, Birley & Goedhuis (Mark Birley of Annabels and Johnny Goedhuis).
☆ Which vintage and region (or wine) do you wish you’d bought a whole case of wine from?
Fortunately I have the wines I would have wanted to buy in most instances! But I wish I had bought a case of Vega Sicila 1970 on first release in 1995.
☆ In the last 12 months, which grape have you drunk the most of?
Pinot Noir for reds and probably Savagnin or Riesling for whites.
☆ In the last 12 months, what’s the most exciting region you’ve discovered or re-discovered and why?
☆ Who’s your wine idol (who has inspired you the most in the wine world)?
Harry Waugh and Becky Wasserman.
☆ What’s your most memorable wine and food moment?
Daisuke-san’s incredible seven-course Japanese lunch, where every dish included sashimi paired with red Burgundy which really worked.
☆ If you could taste/drink any wine in the world what would it be and who would you drink it with?
I missed out on sharing the Opimian Falernian (121 BC) with Cleopatra, but I’d love to crack a magnum of an old Engel wine with Philippe Engel and Bill Baker because then they would both still be around to enjoy it.
☆ What’s the highest number of wines you’ve had on one of your wine lists?
Berry Bros & Rudd currently have over 5000 wines available on their website.
☆ What is the oldest bottle of wine you’ve been served?
The oldest wine I have been served was an 1864 Pommard Clos des Epeneaux.
☆ What do you enjoy most about judging at the Decanter World Wine Awards?
Ask me again in May….
Written by Decanter
