Vignobles Cruse-Lorenzetti blind-tasting winners announced

On Monday, 30 of the UK’s top sommeliers competed in a blind-tasting of one of Bordeaux estate group Vignobles Cruse-Lorenzetti’s wines to win a trip to Paris.

The competition was part of the first-ever UK masterclass tasting of the 2010, 2014, 2015, and 2020 vintages from Margaux’s Châteaux d’Issan, Saint-Estèphe’s Lafon-Rochet, and Pauillac’s Pédesclaux, which (alongside Lilian Ladouys) are under the Vignobles Cruse-Lorenzetti group.

The guests were then invited to taste a blind wine ‘en magnum’ and asked to correctly identify the estate, which was one of the three tasted, and the vintage. Those who guessed correctly had the chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to watch the final of the Best Sommelier in the World Competition in Paris on 12 February, which Vignobles Cruse-Lorenzetti is an official partner of.

The only hint they were given was from group co-owner Emmanuel Cruse, who said that it was from: “an under appreciated vintage”.

There were two sommeliers who came in first place: Beatrice Bessi, of Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone, and Michael Fazari, of Ten Trinity Square, a private members club located in the Four Seasons at Tower Hill. Both correctly deduced the identity of the wine as Château d’Issan 2001.

Marco Nardi, of Notting Hill’s Caractère, and The Pem’s Sylwester Piasecki came a close second with his guess of Château d’Issan 2000.

Whereas the 2000 was 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot and is described as having some floral character, the 2001 Château d’Issan was 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Merlot and has more blackcurrant on the nose and is slightly more acidic. The yields for the 2001 were also significantly higher, at 52 hl/ha, as opposed to 36 hl/ha for the 2000.

Cruse and other co-owner Jacky Lorenzetti expressed gratitude towards the sommeliers for taking part, and are said to be looking forward to hosting these four sommeliers at the competition in Paris.

In other blind tasting news, last year Luxembourg won the 10th edition of the World Blind-Tasting Championship.

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