Can White Wines Age? Tutored Cellar Tasting, 12 March 2015

Wine lovers know that the great red wines of the world can improve with age, due to the presence of tannins which protect them against oxygen over time whilst complex and enticing flavours develop in the bottle. But what about whites? The vast majority are designed to be consumed within the first couple of years, so we don’t tend to put much focus on ageing our whites. Yet there are many styles which can benefit enormously. Anne McHale MW, our talented Wine Education Specialist, is excited about exploring these with you this evening. Join her as she guides you through a stellar line-up of aged whites, all at least 1o years old and many much older, to see what happens to these wines as they develop (warning – this evening is not for those who love lots of fruity flavours in their white wines). You will explore all the classics of the white wine world including White Burgundy, German and Alsace Riesling, Rioja, Vouvray and a sensational white Bordeaux from none other than Ch. Haut Brion itself before finishing with an old Madeira, which although not strictly speaking a ‘white’ wine, is made from white grapes, and definitely worth including. This will be a marvellous evening.

Wines to be tasted:

1973 Verdelho, Madeira Pereira d'Oliveira,
1999 Mailly, Exception Blanche Millésime, Grand Cru
1995 Ch. Haut-Brion Blanc, Pessac-Léognan
1992 Meursault, Perrières, 1er Cru, Domaine des Comtes Lafon
1996 Puligny-Montrachet, Les Combettes, 1er Cru, Collection Bellenum
2000 Riesling Pflaenzerreben de Rorschwihr, Domaine Rolly-Gassmann
1989 Vouvray, Le Mont Moelleux, Première Trie, Domaine Huet
2004 Ürziger Würzgarten, Riesling Auslese, Merkelbach, Mosel
1997 Disznókö, Tokaji Aszú Eszencia
1991 Viña Tondonia Blanco Gran Reserva, Bodegas R. López de Heredia
2004 Viña Gravonia Blanco Crianza, Bodegas R. López de He