Judgment of Paris (wine)

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The Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 or the Judgment of Paris was a wine competition organized in Paris on 24 May 1976 by Steven Spurrier, a British wine merchant, in which French judges did blind tasting of top-quality chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon wines from France and from California.[1] California wines rated best in each category, which caused surprise as France was generally regarded as being the foremost producer of the world's best wines. Spurrier sold only French wine and believed that the California wines would not win.[2]

Contents

[edit] The wines

[edit] Red wines

California Cabernet Sauvignon Vintage Bordeaux Vintage
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Château Mouton-Rothschild 1970
Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971 Château Montrose 1970
Heitz Wine Cellars Martha's Vineyard 1970 Château Haut-Brion 1970
Clos Du Val Winery 1972 Château Leoville Las Cases 1971
Mayacamas Vineyards 1971
Freemark Abbey Winery 1969

[edit] White wines

California Chardonnay Vintage Burgundies Vintage
Chateau Montelena 1973 Meursault Charmes Roulot 1973
Chalone Vineyard 1974 Beaune Clos des Mouches Joseph Drouhin 1973
Spring Mountain Vineyard 1973 Batard-Montrachet Ramonet-Prudhon 1973
Freemark Abbey Winery 1972 Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles Domaine Leflaive 1972
Veedercrest Vineyards 1972
David Bruce Winery 1973

[edit] The judges

The eleven judges were (in alphabetical order):

[edit] Methodology

Blind tasting was performed so that none of the judges knew the identity of what was being tasted.

The judges were asked to grade each wine out of 20 points. No specific grading framework was given, leaving the judges free to grade according to their own criteria.

Rankings of the wines preferred by individual judges were done based on the grades they individually attributed.

An overall ranking of the wines preferred by the jury was also established in averaging the sum of each judge's individual grades (arithmetic mean). However, grades of Patricia Gallagher and Steven Spurrier were not taken into account, counting thus only grades of French judges[3]

[edit] The results

[edit] Red wines

California Cabernet Sauvignon vs. Bordeaux). In alphabetical order of judges.

The original grades (out of 20 points) are shown.

[edit] Pierre Brejoux

Original grades: out of 20 points.

Rank Grade Wine Vintage Origin
1. 17 Château Haut-Brion 1970  France
2. 16 Château Mouton-Rothschild 1970  France
3. 14 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973  United States
3. 14 Clos Du Val Winery 1972  United States
5. 13 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971  United States
6. 12 Château Montrose 1970  France
6. 12 Heitz Wine Cellars Martha's Vineyard 1970  United States
8. 10 Château Leoville Las Cases 1971  France
9. 7 Mayacamas Vineyards 1971  United States
10. 5 Freemark Abbey Winery 1969  United States

[edit] Claude Dubois-Millot

Original grades: out of 20 points.

Rank Grade Wine Vintage Origin
1. 17 Château Montrose 1970  France
2. 16 Château Mouton-Rothschild 1970  France
2. 16 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973  United States
4. 13.5 Château Haut-Brion 1970  France
5. 11 Château Leoville Las Cases 1971  France
6. 9.5 Mayacamas Vineyards 1971  United States
7. 9 Freemark Abbey Winery 1969  United States
7. 9 Clos Du Val Winery 1972  United States
9. 8 Heitz Wine Cellars Martha's Vineyard 1970  United States
10. 7 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971  United States

[edit] Michel Dovaz

Original grades: out of 20 points.

Rank Grade Wine Vintage Origin
1. 15 Château Mouton-Rothschild 1970  France
1. 15 Freemark Abbey Winery 1969  United States
3. 12 Château Haut-Brion 1970  France
3. 12 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971  United States
5. 11 Château Montrose 1970  France
5. 11 Heitz Wine Cellars Martha's Vineyard 1970  United States
5. 11 Clos Du Val Winery 1972  United States
8. 10 Château Leoville Las Cases 1971  France
8. 10 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973  United States
10. 8 Mayacamas Vineyards 1971  United States

[edit] Patricia Gallagher

Original grades: out of 20 points.

Rank Grade Wine Vintage Origin
1. 17 Heitz Wine Cellars Martha's Vineyard 1970  United States
2. 16 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971  United States
3. 15 Château Mouton-Rothschild 1970  France
3. 15 Freemark Abbey Winery 1969  United States
5. 14 Château Leoville Las Cases 1971  France
5. 14 Château Montrose 1970  France
5. 14 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973  United States
8. 13 Clos Du Val Winery 1972  United States
9. 12 Château Haut-Brion 1970  France
10. 9 Mayacamas Vineyards 1971  United States

[edit] Odette Kahn

Original grades: out of 20 points.

Rank Grade Wine Vintage Origin
1. 15 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973  United States
2. 13 Mayacamas Vineyards 1971  United States
3. 12 Château Mouton-Rothschild 1970  France
3. 12 Château Montrose 1970  France
3. 12 Château Leoville Las Cases 1971  France
3. 12 Château Haut-Brion 1970  France
7. 7 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971  United States
8. 5 Freemark Abbey Winery 1969  United States
9. 2 Heitz Wine Cellars Martha's Vineyard 1970  United States
9. 2 Clos Du Val Winery 1972  United States

[edit] Raymond Oliver

Original grades: out of 20 points.

Rank Grade Wine Vintage Origin
1. 14 Château Montrose 1970  France
1. 14 Mayacamas Vineyards 1971  United States
1. 14 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973  United States
4. 12 Château Mouton-Rothschild 1970  France
4. 12 Château Leoville Las Cases 1971  France
4. 12 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971  United States
7. 10 Château Haut-Brion 1970  France
7. 10 Clos Du Val Winery 1972  United States
7. 10 Heitz Wine Cellars Martha's Vineyard 1970  United States
10. 8 Freemark Abbey Winery 1969  United States

[edit] Steven Spurrier

Original grades: out of 20 points.

Rank Grade Wine Vintage Origin
1. 14 Château Montrose 1970  France
1. 14 Château Mouton-Rothschild 1970  France
1. 14 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973  United States
1. 14 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971  United States
5. 13 Heitz Wine Cellars Martha's Vineyard 1970  United States
5. 13 Freemark Abbey Winery 1969  United States
7. 12 Château Leoville Las Cases 1971  France
8. 11 Clos Du Val Winery 1972  United States
9. 9 Mayacamas Vineyards 1971  United States
10. 8 Château Haut-Brion 1970  France

[edit] Pierre Tari

Original grades: out of 20 points.

Rank Grade Wine Vintage Origin
1. 17 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971  United States
2. 15 Heitz Wine Cellars Martha's Vineyard 1970  United States
3. 14 Château Montrose 1970  France
3. 14 Château Haut-Brion 1970  France
3. 14 Freemark Abbey Winery 1969  United States
6. 13 Clos Du Val Winery 1972  United States
6. 13 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973  United States
8. 12 Château Leoville Las Cases 1971  France
8. 12 Mayacamas Vineyards 1971  United States
10. 11 Château Mouton-Rothschild 1970  France

[edit] Christian Vanneque

Original grades: out of 20 points.

Rank Grade Wine Vintage Origin
1. 17 Château Haut-Brion 1970  France
2. 16.5 Clos Du Val Winery 1972  United States
2. 16.5 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973  United States
4. 16 Château Mouton-Rothschild 1970  France
5. 15.5 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971  United States
6. 11 Château Montrose 1970  France
7. 10 Heitz Wine Cellars Martha's Vineyard 1970  United States
8. 8 Château Leoville Las Cases 1971  France
9. 6 Freemark Abbey Winery 1969  United States
10. 3 Mayacamas Vineyards 1971  United States

[edit] Aubert de Villaine

Original grades: out of 20 points.

Rank Grade Wine Vintage Origin
1. 16 Château Montrose 1970  France
2. 15 Château Haut-Brion 1970  France
2. 15 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973  United States
4. 14 Château Mouton-Rothschild 1970  France
5. 12 Mayacamas Vineyards 1971  United States
6. 10 Château Leoville Las Cases 1971  France
7. 9 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971  United States
8. 7 Freemark Abbey Winery 1969  United States
8. 7 Heitz Wine Cellars Martha's Vineyard 1970  United States
10. 5 Clos Du Val Winery 1972  United States

[edit] Jean-Claude Vrinat

Original grades: out of 20 points.

Rank Grade Wine Vintage Origin
1. 15 Château Montrose 1970  France
1. 15 Château Haut-Brion 1970  France
2. 14 Château Mouton-Rothschild 1970  France
2. 14 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973  United States
5. 13 Mayacamas Vineyards 1971  United States
6. 12 Château Leoville Las Cases 1971  France
7. 11 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971  United States
8. 9 Heitz Wine Cellars Martha's Vineyard 1970  United States
9. 7 Freemark Abbey Winery 1969  United States
9. 7 Clos Du Val Winery 1972  United States

[edit] Average

Original grades: out of 20 points.

Rank Grade Wine Vintage Origin
1. 14.14 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973  United States
2. 14.09 Château Mouton-Rothschild 1970  France
3. 13.64 Château Montrose 1970  France
4. 13.23 Château Haut-Brion 1970  France
5. 12.14 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971  United States
6. 11.18 Château Leoville Las Cases 1971  France
7. 10.36 Heitz Wine Cellars Martha's Vineyard 1970  United States
8. 10.14 Clos Du Val Winery 1972  United States
9. 9.77 Mayacamas Vineyards 1971  United States
10. 9.64 Freemark Abbey Winery 1969  United States

[edit] White wines

California Chardonnays vs. Burgundy Chardonnays

[edit] Average

Original grades: out of 20 points.

Rank Grade Wine Vintage Origin
1. Chateau Montelena 1973  United States
2. Meursault Charmes Roulot 1973  France
3. Chalone Vineyard 1974  United States
4. Spring Mountain Vineyard 1973  United States
5. Beaune Clos des Mouches Joseph Drouhin 1973  France
6. Freemark Abbey Winery 1972  United States
7. Batard-Montrachet Ramonet-Prudhon 1973  France
8. Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles Domaine Leflaive 1972  France
9. Veedercrest Vineyards 1972  United States
10. David Bruce Winery 1973  United States

[edit] Controversies

[edit] Subjectivity of taste

Some critics suggest that wine tastings lack scientific validity due to the subjectivity of taste in human beings. The organizer of the competition, Steven Spurrier, said "The results of a blind tasting cannot be predicted and will not even be reproduced the next day by the same panel tasting the same wines"[4] and in one case it was reported that "A side-by-side chart of best-to-worst rankings of 18 wines by a roster of experienced tasters showed about as much consistency as a table of random numbers."[5][6]

[edit] Statistical interpretation

Without calling into question the abilities of the tasters, scientific concerns have been raised about the methodology used by individual judges as well as the validity of any statistical interpretation. The heterogeneity of the grades given by individual judges was seen as a consequence of the lack of a common grading system among tasters, and the data sample was deemed too small for meaningful statistical interpretation. Steven Spurrier, the organizer of the tasting, acknowledged in Decanter in August 1996 that he tallied the winners by "adding the judges marks and dividing this by nine (which I was told later was statistically meaningless)."

Orley Ashenfelter and Richard E. Quandt analyzed the results of all 11 judges instead of only 9 and proposed a slightly different ranking (see below). They also stated that only the scores of the first two wines in their ranking were statistically valid, and that the seven other wines could not be differentiated statistically.[4]

  1.  United States Stag's Leap Wine Cellars '73
  2.  France Montrose '70
  3.  France Mouton '70
  4.  France Haut Brion '70
  5.  United States Ridge Monte Bello '71
  6.  United States Heitz Martha's '70
  7.  France Leoville-las-cases '71
  8.  United States Freemark Abbey '69
  9.  United States Mayacamas '71
  10.  United States Clos du Val '72

[edit] Tasting replications

Some critics[7] argued that French red wines would age better than the California reds, so this was tested.

[edit] San Francisco Wine Tasting of 1978

The San Francisco Wine Tasting of 1978 was conducted 20 months after the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976. Steven Spurrier flew in from Paris to participate in the evaluations, which were held at the Vintners Club.[3]

On January 11, 98 evaluators blind-tasted the same Chardonnays tasted earlier in Paris.

  1.  United States – 1974 Chalone Winery
  2.  United States – 1973 Chateau Montelena
  3.  United States – 1973 Spring Mountain Vineyard
  4.  France – 1972 Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles Domaine Leflaive.

Ranking lower were Meursault Charmes Roulot 1973, Beaune Clos des Mouches Joseph Drouhin 1973, and Batard-Montrachet Ramonet-Prudhon 1973.

On January 12, 99 evaluators blind-tasted the same Cabernet Sauvignons tasted earlier in Paris.

  1.  United States – 1973 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
  2.  United States – 1970 Heitz Wine Cellars Martha’s vineyard
  3.  United States – 1971 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello
  4.  France – 1970 Château Mouton Rothschild.

Ranking lower were Château Montrose 1970, Château Haut-Brion 1970, and Château Leoville Las Cases 1971.

[edit] French Culinary Institute Wine Tasting of 1986

Two tastings were conducted on the tenth anniversary of the original Paris Wine Tasting. White wines were not evaluated in the belief that they were past their prime.

Steven Spurrier, who organized the original 1976 wine competition, assisted in the anniversary tasting. Eight judges blind tasted nine of the ten wines evaluated. The evaluation resulted in the following ranking.

Results

Rank Wine

  1.  United States - Clos Du Val Winery 1972
  2.  United States - Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello
  3.  France - Château Montrose
  4.  France - Château Leoville Las Cases 1971
  5.  France - Château Mouton Rothschild 1970
  6.  United States - Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973
  7.  United States - Heitz Wine Cellars 1970
  8.  United States - Mayacamas Vineyards 1971
  9.  France - Château Haut-Brion

[edit] Wine Spectator Tasting of 1986

Four of the judges were experts from the Wine Spectator and two were outsiders. All tasted the wines blind.

Results

Rank Wine

  1.  United States - Heitz Wine Cellars 1970
  2.  United States - Mayacamas Vineyards 1971
  3.  United States - Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello
  4.  United States - Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973
  5.  United States - Clos Du Val Winery 1972
  6.  France - Château Montrose 1970
  7.  France - Château Mouton Rothschild 1970
  8.  France - Château Leoville Las Cases 1971
  9.  United States - Freemark Abbey Winery 1967
  10.  France - Château Haut-Brion 1970

[edit] The Tasting that Changed the Wine World: 'The Judgment of Paris' 30th Anniversary

A 30-year anniversary re-tasting on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean was organized by Steven Spurrier in 2006. As The Times reported "Despite the French tasters, many of whom had taken part in the original tasting, 'expecting the downfall' of the American vineyards, they had to admit that the harmony of the Californian cabernets had beaten them again. Judges on both continents gave top honours to a 1971 Ridge Monte Bello cabernet. Four Californian reds occupied the next placings before the highest-ranked Bordeaux, a 1970 Château Mouton-Rothschild, came in at sixth."[8]

The Tasting that Changed the Wine World: 'The Judgment of Paris' 30th Anniversary was conducted on 24 May 2006.[1]

After the original tasting, some critics[citation needed] suggested that the French red wines would age better than their California counterparts.

The 30-year anniversary was held simultaneously at COPIA (The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts) in Napa, California and at Berry Bros. & Rudd (Britain’s oldest wine merchant) in London, in association with Steven Spurrier, who created the original Paris event.

The panel of nine wine experts at COPIA consisted of Dan Berger, Anthony Dias Blue, Stephen Brook, Wilfred Jaeger, Peter Marks MW, Paul Roberts MS, Andrea Immer Robinson MS, Jean-Michel Valette MW and Christian Vanneque, one of the original judges from the 1976 tasting.

The panel of nine experts at Berry Bros. & Rudd consisted of Michel Bettane, Michael Broadbent MW, Michel Dovaz, Hugh Johnson, Matthew Jukes, Jane MacQuitty, Jasper Morris MW, Jancis Robinson OBE MW and Brian St. Pierre.[2]

The results showed that additional panels of experts again preferred the California wines over their French competitors.[3]

Results
  1.  United States - Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971
  2.  United States - Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973
  3.  United States - Mayacamas Vineyards 1971 (tie)
  4.  United States - Heitz Wine Cellars 'Martha's Vineyard' 1970 (tie)
  5.  United States - Clos Du Val Winery 1972
  6.  France - Château Mouton-Rothschild 1970
  7.  France - Château Montrose 1970