Annual Dinner Wines

Conal Gregory, Master of Wine and our Club Chairman, introduces the wines: 

Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Brut Champagne 1995, bottled in Epernay 

Perrier-Jouët has always been a prestigious Champagne house. Its superb vineyards in Avize and neighbouring Cramant account for the hazelnut aromas and creamy flavours of the top-flight Chardonnay which forms a key part in its blends. Founded in 1811, PJ became the favourite fizz of Queen Victoria. The distinctive design was introduced in 1970 and is a replica of Emile Galle’s original bottle with the enamel anemones fired directly onto the surface of the glass. 

Corton-Charlemagne 2002, Grand cru, bottled by Louis Latour 

After Montrachet, this is regarded as THE finest Chardonnay in the world! It takes its name from the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles I, who owned vines on the hill of Corton, where today Louis Latour have 10.5ha and winery. The soil is marl with a high clay content over lava. “Corton-Charlemagne is probably the slowest to mature of all Burgundian white wines…. With bottle-age, its great bouquet turns to grilled almonds and cinnamon,” says Serena Sutcliffe MW, whilst Clive Coates MW says “there should be a steely backbone, a raciness.” Louis Latour was founded in 1797 and is one of the greatest producers of Burgundy. 

Château La Lagune 1989, Ludon, 3ème cru classé, château bottled 

Classic Claret: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot grown on gravel on a clay and fossil limestone subsoil; the 80ha vineyard lies on an outcrop of sand and fine gravel just south of the village of Margaux. It is the closest Classed Growth to the city of Bordeaux and was a significant estate even in the late 16th century. The grapes are hand-harvested, followed by very selective sorting. The wine is aged for 15 months in barrel of which half is new oak. Stephen Brook in his authoritative “The Complete Bordeaux” describes the 1989 as “succulent, tannic and concentrated.” 

Veenwouden Classic 2000, estate bottled Northern Paarl, South Africa 

A magnificent blend of four varieties planted in 1990-94: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec from a boutique winery, named after the hamlet in Friesland in The Netherlands where the Van der Walt came from to the Cape in 1727. The international opera singer Deon van der Walt purchased the 14.5ha estate in 1988 which was managed by his parents, Charles and Sheila, and brother Marcel. The soil is similar to Pomerol. The yield was limited to 5 tons/ha. Deon tutored – and sang – for the Club in September 2004.

Château Guiraud 2001, 1er cru classé, château bottled 

A stunning Sauternes, regarded by many as the THE finest after d’Yquem. Made from selected picking of 65% Semillon and 35% Sauvignon grapes grown on 85ha that have been affected by botrytis cinerea (‘noble rot’) and matured in at least 50% new oak. Originally known as Ch. Bayle, the name was changed by Pierre Guiraud, a Bordeaux négociant after he acquired it in 1766. The soil is sand and gravel with a little clay over limestone and clay. The 2001 has “a voluptuous nose of crème brûlée and oranges, yet the palate has precision and poise; it’s fresh and zesty and has a very long, orangey finish,” says Brook. 

Croft 1977 vintage Port, bottled in Portugal 

Dating from 1678, Croft is one of the oldest Port houses. The Croft family originally came from Lancashire and their wine business started once one married into the Thomsons of York. Their flagship estate is Quinta da Roêda, lying just east of Pinhão at the heart of the key Cima Corgo district. 1977 was one of the finest vintages of the last century, declared by 24 shippers and the most outstanding since 1963.