Ottawa Wine Tasting of 1981

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The Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 revolutionized the wine world. After the leading wine experts in France selected both white and red wine from California as superior to the very best French wines in blind taste tests, the world recognized that superior wines could be made in other parts of the world. The Ottawa Wine Tasting of 1981 confirmed that fact.

Comparisons in the U.S. before the Paris Wine Tasting had ranked some California wines superior to their French counterparts. However, they were dismissed as potentially biased because the judges were American. It was also suggested that the French wines may have suffered in the trip across the pond. The blind tasting by leading French experts gave the Paris results enormous credibility.

Five years after the Paris tasting, New York Times wine critic Terry Robards noted that "American wines are often challenging French wines in tasting competitions these days, and the results often suggest that certain carefully chosen California wine are superior to the best that France can offer."

One of the most significant subsequent blind tastings was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in the Canadian capital of Ottawa on January 18, 1981. It was on "neutral territory" and pitted wines from California against those from France.

Robards reported that "Thirteen wines were involved, and California swept the first five places, defeating Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Mouton-Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Margaux and Château Haut-Brion, all from the excellent Bordeaux vintage of 1970." These are all First Growths (Premiers Crus) as established by the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.

These were the results:

Rank Region Wine

1 California Sterling Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1974
2 California Beaulieu Vineyard George de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1970
3 California Heitz Wine Cellars Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1974
4 California Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 1974

4 California (tie) Beaulieu Vineyard George de Latour Private Reserve 1974
6 Bordeaux Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 1970
7 Bordeaux Château Latour 1970
8 Bordeaux Château Lafite-Rothschild 1970
9 California Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 1975
10 California Freemark Abbey Winery Cabernet Boche 1974
11 Bordeaux Château Mouton Rothschild 1970
12 Bordeaux Château Margaux 1970
13 Bordeaux Château Haut-Brion 1970

World class wines are now being produced in many countries around the world. Wine makers continue to explore new areas for vineyards, new vineyard techniques, improved technology for enhancing quality during fermentation, and better ageing methods. In turn, French winemakers no longer rely on tradition but have joined the wine revolutions to the benefit of consumers everywhere.

Sources

Robards, Terry. Again, California wine defeats French in a blind taste test. New York Times, January 21, 1981, Sec. 3, p. 12.
[French Wine Producers]

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Ottawa Wine Tasting of 1981

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Sources