Prestige Cuvée vs Vintage Champagne Tasting

Guests are invited to taste 8 pairs of Prestige Cuvée and Vintage Champagnes from the same house, under the direction of Jancis Robinson MW, the world's leading wine journalist, author, presenter and critic. The splendour of prestige cuvées is no secret, but their vintage counterparts can be somewhat overlooked in comparison. Tasted blind alongside each other in the past, we have been surprised at how well vintage champagnes have performed; so we decided to give them a chance to prove what they're worth! Simply comparing the two will be a remarkable discovery, but to add another layer of intrigue the Prestige Cuvées will be tasted from bottle and the Vintages from magnum.

Champagnes to be tasted (16 in total):
Bollinger R.D. 2002 75cl vs La Grande Année 2007 1.5L
Dom Pérignon 2009 75cl vs Moët 2008 1.5L
Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires 1995 75cl vs Brut Millésimé 2005 1.5L
Lanson Clos Lanson 2006 75cl vs Gold Label Brut Vintage 2005 1.5L
Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle NV 75cl vs Vintage 2006 1.5L
Louis Roederer Cristal 2009 75cl vs Brut Vintage 2009 1.5L
Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 2006 75cl vs Brut Vintage 2008 1.5L
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2006 75cl vs Brut Vintage 2009 1.5L

Prestige cuvées are typically aged for a few more years than the 'standard' vintage release, so when a house launches its current vintage, it is usually a few more years before we see the prestige cuvée release catch up. However, the Champagne fanatics amongst you may notice that many of the above Champagnes are new, or even yet to be released. With many expected to hit the market later this year, the pairs will be much closer together in vintage than normally seen. This tasting will therefore be a unique opportunity to not only be amongst the first to taste some exceptional newly released cuvées, but to do so when the vintage gap between the prestige cuvée and current vintage is significantly reduced.Jancis comments: "Very, very good! For once it will be the producers being tested rather more than me!!!"The handpicked selection of Prestige Cuvée and Vintage Champagnes will of course be blind tasted and live voting will allow guests to decide on a preference without any brand preconceptions. A competition will be taking place throughout the evening to ascertain who can correctly identify the Prestige Cuvée from the Vintage and who can identify which house the pairs are from... (prizes will be awarded!)The tasting will be hosted by Jancis Robinson MW. Described by Decanter magazine as ‘the most respected wine critic and journalist in the world’, Jancis writes daily for JancisRobinson.com (voted first ever Wine Website of the Year) and weekly for The Financial Times. She is also editor of The Oxford Companion to Wine, an award-winning TV presenter and global wine judge. In 1984 she was the first person outside of the wine trade to pass the rigorous Master of Wine exams and in 2003 she was awarded an OBE.
The venue will be 67 Pall Mall. Founded by wine lovers, for wine lovers, this unique private members' club in the heart of historic St James's is both luxurious and welcoming – affording members access to some of the finest and rarest wines in the world, direct from the club's extensive cellars. 67 Pall Mall, St James’s, London, SW1Y 5ES.
Tickets are available on a first come first served basis to 56 guests at £250.00 per person.
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