I love going to tasting for obvious reasons but they are usually $50 and below with wines ranging from $15-$100. I’ve never spent $200 on a tasting not at a winery and was wondering if list contained any really good wines? or is just a bunch of random scattered producers. This is going to sound wild but I never dove deep into French wines so apologies if this is a silly post.
by zedath
20 Comments
I wouldn’t think twice about it. Yes to me.
It’s a mixed list. Some good stuff, some real midtier stuff.
Worth going out of your way for:
Chevalier
Pape Clement
Haut Smith Lafitte
Clos Fourtet
Figeac
Valandraud
Clinet
Petit-Village
Brane-Cantenac
Giscours
Loeville Barton
Loeville Poyf
Lynch Bages
Suduiraut
Guiraud
Overall, I’d say this is an OK tasting. Probably not worth the $200, I assume this is a glass-and-go rather than tutored tasting?
Short answer is 100% yes that list is full of great Bordeaux producers.
There are many very good producers here. But ask yourself — what are you getting out of it if you do go?
Are they all the same vintage or are there several vintages of each? Do you have a plan of how to approach it, an ability to construct a systematic approach of sorts?
As so often, wine is just as much about the taster as it is the liquid.
I think it depends on whether you like Bordeaux or not. It would be an easy yes for me.
I love Bordeaux, so it would be an easy yes for me. Maybe others would be different, but looks great!
Not sure where you are located, but this list of 2022 Bordeaux tasting is very similar to the UGC Bordeaux tasting event.
In that case, it is definitely worth it, although it’s a pour and walk tasting, you are welcome to go back for re-tasting. Also depending on the city it’s held, some like Toronto’s will have very good food served as well.
I would pay double to taste that much here in NZ. Not everyday we get to see these.
Also to add, 2022 was a pretty highly acclaim vintage for bordeaux barrel samples, but their Futures market pricing was very high, as compared to 2023 futures.
Some of the ones I would seek out to taste:
Canon
Figeac
Pichon Lalande
Giscours
Haut-Bailly
Leoville Barton
Lynch Bages
Petit-Village
Leoville Poyferre
Pavie Macquin
Pichon Baron
Rauzan Segla
Smith Haut Lafitte
Clos Fortet
Domaine de Chevallier
Pape Clement
Note, Usually UGC will pass out a book with a description of all the members of the Union(over 100 chateau’s), and is very informative. They will also pass out a booklet with each wine and space for you to capture your tasting notes and comments. Be sure to pick up these books.
*** Had to edit the list after realizing there are some differences in wine available per UGC cities.
It’s a good list of wines; however at large events like this, it’s often hard to sample everything (either tired or tipsy) and your value may vary. If you go, I’d try to prioritize the wines you really want to try in advance and hopefully it’s organized enough and not too busy that you can get to them
Enjoy
I’d go, good opportunity to learn about a ton of houses.
Yes, but if it’s a walkaround tasting, your taste buds will get exhausted! So make sure to hydrate!
If this is the UGC, I’ve done it twice now and I really liked it, but agreed drinking young Bordeaux wears out your palate pretty quickly. After about 5 wines they all felt so similar that I was just pretty much drinking to get drunk at that point. Still a blast though, the best part is talking to some of the producers imo.
I don’t think tastings are all that, so no for me. But the wines are excellent.
Easy yes.
Just for the sheer volume of wine, yes!
It’s probably worth it even if you don’t think you like Bordeaux. $200 gamble that you’ll end up changing your mind.
100% Yes.
100%
I would absolutely go.
Doesn’t say what vintages but I’m guessing they’ll be young. I personally wouldn’t go given it’s just too much full bodied bdx to fully appreciate each one unless I spit it all out. The wines are too young to be giving full pleasure anyway. But if your aim is to learn more about each producer then it’s definitely worthwhile.