Wine Tastings
One of the most enjoyable vinous experiences can be wine tasting. However, such events can sometimes be underwhelming due to:
- an excessive number of wines on offer
- the number of average, poor or uninteresting wines in the line-up
- too many people
- an impersonal or noisy environment
- little opportunity to discuss the wines
We address all of these challenges by hosting intimate tastings at our shop in London. and in all cases, these are usually for six to seven guests plus the host (usually James but in some cases, we will have a guest expert attending).
We generally cater based on a bottle a head to allow a sufficient “pour” of each wine. The cost of the tasting will always reflect the quality of the wines chosen and this results in no poor or average wines being offered. Nibbles and small bites will be served and the events will usually run from 19:00 to 21:00.
The number of guests also ensures a comfortable and intimate environment for our guests, where the wines can be tasted and discussed at a leisurely pace.
We offer two types of tasting which are:
Masterclass Tastings
Usually on a Friday of the month and focused the “masterclass” tastings give you the opportunity to taste finer wines which are more difficult to obtain but also effectively “sharing” the cost of such wines among similarly minded wine lovers.
The themes here will usually be more specific, for example focused on a specific region, vintage, variety, often on a comparison basis. The cost is usually around £150-£300 per head depending on the wines on offer.
📅 Our next available dates are:
🍝🍷 March 20 (Friday) – Italy 2016 – £175
2016 was a fabulous red vintage in Italy. We will offer four flights (pairings), beginning with two outstanding Chardonnay blends, followed by three classic regional comparisons from Piedmont (Nebbiolo), Brunello (Sangiovese) and Toscana (Bordeaux blends).
Flight 1
Antinori della Sala 2023 (Umbria)
Gaja Gaia & Rey 2019 (Langhe)
Flight 2
2016 Gaja Barbaresco (Barbaresco)
2016 Luciano Sandrone Le Vigne (Barolo)
Flight 3
2016 Poggio di Sotto (Brunello)
2016 Biondi Santi Annata (Brunello)
Flight 4
2016 Guado al Tasso
2016 Rampolla Vigna d’Alceo (Toscana Bordeaux blends)
🏰🍷 April 24 (Friday) – Bordeaux Left Bank 2005 – £275
2005 was a superb year on Bordeaux’s Left Bank. We will present a unique horizontal tasting of six top Left Bank reds — all from the 2005 vintage — preceded by two younger Bordeaux Blancs.
Flight 1
Two Bordeaux Blancs (Sémillon–Sauvignon blends, TBC)
Flight 2
2005 Léoville Barton (St Julien)
2005 Léoville Las Cases (St Julien)
Flight 3
2005 Pape Clément (Pessac)
2005 Calon Ségur (St Estèphe)
Flight 4
2005 Palmer (Margaux)
2005 Pichon Baron (Pauillac)
🥖⚔️🦘 May 29 (Friday) – France vs Australia – £200
One of our popular “Old World vs New World” tastings. Four major varieties, matched for price, vintage and quality. Each pair will be revealed but served blind.
Chardonnay
Penfolds Yattarna 2021
vs JM Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet Caillerets 2021
Pinot Noir
2016 Faiveley Cazetiers (Gevrey-Chambertin)
vs Tolpuddle Pinot Noir (Tasmania)
Syrah/Shiraz
2016 Jamet Côte Rôtie
vs Henschke Mount Edelstone (Eden Valley)
Cabernet-led
2016 Wynns John Riddoch (Coonawarra)
vs 2016 Léoville Poyferré (St Julien)
☀️🥂 June 19 (Friday) – Summer Sipping: Part 1 – £150
A chance to explore some of the finest summer wines we offer. Six French whites (no Chardonnay this time) followed by two Pinot Noirs. A perfect opportunity to discover something new.
Flight 1
Trimbach Frédéric Emile Riesling
Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer
Flight 2
Bordeaux Blanc (Sémillon–Sauvignon, TBC)
Guigal Ex-Voto Blanc (Marsanne)
Flight 3
Vernay Condrieu Coteau Vernon (Viognier)
Monts Damnés Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc)
Flight 4
Two French Pinot Noirs (TBC)
🌍🌞 July 24 (Friday) – Summer Sipping: Part 2 – £125
Continuing the summer theme, this time focusing on outstanding non-French wines. Six whites from a range of varieties, finishing with two New World Pinot Noirs.
Flight 1
As Sortes Albariño 2022
Pago de los Abuelos Bierzo Godello 2020
Flight 2
Dönnhoff Hermannshöhle Riesling 2019
Egon Müller Kabinett 2019
Flight 3
Mount Pleasant Lovedale (Semillon)
Mayacamas Chardonnay (Napa Valley)
Flight 4
One American and one Australian Pinot Noir (TBC)
(No tasting in August — we resume in September as we move into autumn.)
🚴♂️🍇 September 25 (Friday) – Tour de Rhône – £200
The Rhône Valley produces some of France’s most exciting and best-value wines. We will taste two outstanding indigenous whites and six reds from the valley’s key sub-regions.
Clos des Papes Blanc (Marsanne) 2019
Beaucastel Roussanne 2019
Auguste Clape Saint-Joseph 2016
Top Cornas (TBC)
Hermitage (TBC)
René Rostaing Côte Rôtie La Landonne
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Clos des Papes (2010)
Janasse Vieilles Vignes (2010)
🏔️🍷 October 30 (Friday) – South American Classics – £175
South American wines — particularly from Chile and Argentina — are now competing with the very best of Europe, while developing their own distinctive identities.
Flight 1
Top Chardonnay and/or Sémillon (Argentina & Chile, TBC)
Flight 2
Catena Zapata (Malbec)
Cheval des Andes (Bordeaux blend)
Flight 3
Clos Apalta
Viña Almaviva (vintages TBC)
Flight 4
Seña
Chadwick / Viñedo Chadwick (vintages TBC)
🥖⚖️🗽 November 20 (Friday) – France vs USA – £295
Chelsea’s version of the Judgement of Paris. Outstanding French wines matched against equivalent US counterparts at similar price, vintage and quality. Served blind.
Chardonnay
Kistler (Napa)
vs Puligny-Montrachet or Chassagne-Montrachet
Right Bank vs Napa
Mayacamas or Beaulieu Vineyard (Napa)
vs Château Canon (St Emilion)
Left Bank vs Napa
Dominus Estate or Monte Bello
vs Cos d’Estournel (St Estèphe)
Iconic Pair
Opus One (Napa)
vs Château Figeac (St Emilion)
🎄🥂✨ December 4 (Friday) – Christmas Fizz – £250
We finish the year with a pre-Christmas celebration of some of the most exciting Champagnes available — from top non-vintages to rosé, grower Champagnes and iconic vintage classics.
Grand Siècle No. 26 NV
Ruinart Blanc de Blancs NV
Two Rosés (TBC)
Egly-Ouriet VP (NV)
Larmandier-Bernier Chemins d’Avize (NV)
Dom Pérignon (Vintage TBC)
Cristal (Vintage TBC)
(possibly Winston Churchill)
Bespoke Tastings
Finally, we will continue to offer “bespoke” tastings where a customer may want to invite their own group of friends (usually 6 people) and will plan the lineup (and budget) with us in advance. We have hosted a number of such events with the budget ranging from £75 to £500+ per head depending on what the customer is looking for.
In all cases customers will be offered a 5% discount on any of the wines offered at the tastings. Such discounts can be used on the evening of the event or online or in store for a week after the tasting.
If you are Interested, please get in touch with us at: james@theperfectbottle.com
