The Judgement of Paris

In 1976 the wine world was virtually brought to its knees in shock when a panel of European wine experts judged two Californian
wines to be superior to some of Bordeaux’s finest in a blind tasting at the Intercontinental Hotel in Paris. 

One of those wines was 1971 Ridge Monte Bello. 

In 2006, to celebrate the 30th anniversary, a rematch was held with the original wines being tasted by an expert panel – including Berrys’ Jasper Morris MW – simultaneously in Napa and in London. Once again, Californian wines triumphed over their Bordeaux counterparts with Ridge’s 1971 Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon beating the likes of 1970 Ch. Mouton Rothschild and 1970 Ch. Haut-Brion into first place. Read More