“The Paris court” 1976

“The judgment of Paris” became a famous blind comparative tasting of French and California wines, organized by British wine merchant Steven Spurge may 24, 1976 in Paris.

The tasting consisted of two parts: a comparison of samples of Californian Chardonnay, white wines of Burgundy and compare red wines of Bordeaux with Cabernet Sauvignon from California.

Scandalous this event highlighted the fact that the judging team, which consisted mostly of French (to the best tasters of the time), in both cases – albeit with a minimum margin – gave the superiority of California wines, despite the fact that France represented the recognized names that he Sure introduced in the comparative range as a “benchmark” without having to prove the superiority of Californian producers.

The estimated worth of these tastings is the subject of considerable debate, and in recognition of Mr. Spore, “the result of a blind tasting is hardly possible to repeat the next day even with the same people and the same wines”. However, the results of “the Paris court in 1976,” led many in the wine world to take a fresh look at how California wines, and considered the unquestioned wines of France.

French winemakers have reacted to this event with the statement that their wines show themselves truly only in 10 years, while the wines from California at this age – the big question. These statements were unfounded. And in 10 years Spare repeated the experiment with the same wine, same vintage year, in an expanded jury. California Cabernet Sauvignon once again took the first two places.

Convincing evidence of non-randomness of the estimates was 30-year anniversary of “the Paris court”. In 2006 was again organized blind comparative tasting of the same vintages, with a number of French judges who participated in the “trial of 1976”. After 30 years, California took five first places and Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1970 “came” the sixth…

However, it is noteworthy that in the battle of young wines, held in the framework of this event, a landslide victory in both categories (and in white and in red) won the wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy. That, according to Mr. Spore, demonstrates a sound and correct approach of the French to changing market conditions and proved the right to be considered true masters of winemaking.