GWA Cellar Selection Tasting | Chardonnay focus | Thur 8th Oct 26 | 18-20h U

Cellar Selection: Chardonnay & Chenin Blanc Icons
 
Five Remarkable Wines. One Extraordinary Evening.
 
Some wines are enjoyable when young. Others reveal their true character only with time.
For this exclusive Cellar Selection, we have drawn from our reserves to assemble a fascinating line-up of mature and premium white wines from some of the world's most respected regions. This is a rare opportunity to compare benchmark expressions of Chardonnay and  and one Chenin Blanc side by side. This can help with calibration between the two styles but also it is just a phenomenal opportunity to see whether or not the FMC really does stand up to the international competition. 
These wines represent some of the most compelling white wine terroirs on the planet.
 
From the limestone slopes of Chablis and Saint-Aubin to the cool maritime influence of Tasmania and the sun-drenched vineyards of Stellenbosch, each bottle tells a unique story of place, variety and craftsmanship.
 
What makes this tasting particularly special is the opportunity to compare wines that sit at the very highest level of quality within their respective regions. These are not everyday examples. They are wines chosen because they have earned their place amongst the world's most admired white wines and because they offer something genuinely thought-provoking in the glass.
 
The line-up includes Jean-Marc Brocard's acclaimed Chablis Premier Cru Butteaux, two outstanding Premier Cru Saint-Aubins from leading Burgundy producers, the highly regarded Stargazer Chardonnay from Tasmania and one of South Africa's most celebrated white wines, Ken Forrester's legendary FMC Chenin Blanc.
 
Tasted together, these wines provide a unique insight into how climate, soil, grape variety and winemaking choices combine to create dramatically different expressions of premium white wine.
This is not simply a tasting. It is an opportunity to explore some of the finest examples of Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc currently being produced in the world.
 
 
Featured Wines
 
Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux 2020
Domaine Gérard Thomas Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Murgers des Dents de Chien 2019
Domaine Fernand & Laurent Pillot Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Sentier du Clou 2019
Stargazer Chardonnay, Tasmania 2017
Ken Forrester The FMC Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch 2019
 
 
Each wine will be supplied in a 100ml tasting sample.
 
 
This is not simply a tasting of individual wines. It is an opportunity to explore the evolution of a wine-producing nation through a carefully curated collection of bottles that tell a much larger story.
 
 
The Experience
 
 
Your wines will be preserved using argon gas and prepared specifically for the tasting. Sample sizes vary according to availability, with some wines offered in smaller measures due to the limited quantities remaining in our cellar.
 
 
Join us live on Zoom for an in-depth two-hour guided tasting session, where we will explore the history, geography, soils, viticulture, winemaking and ageing potential of each wine. Along the way we will discuss why these wines matter, how they compare with their international peers and what makes them worthy of a place in a fine wine cellar.
 
 
The sessions are designed for both enthusiastic wine lovers and experienced wine students. Whether you are discovering these wines for the first time or returning to structured tasting after completing your studies, you will find plenty to enjoy.
 
 
Many of our alumni tell us that they miss the opportunity to taste and discuss wines in a focused environment. These sessions provide a chance to reconnect with those skills, revisit classic regions and benchmark your palate against a range of outstanding wines.
 
 
For those who wish to approach the tasting in a more structured way, WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT) notes can be provided on request.
 
 
To ensure a highly interactive experience, places are limited to a maximum of 12 participants. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions, discuss the wines and share observations throughout the evening.
 
 
All sessions are recorded and available to view for one month after the live event.
 
 
Pricing
 
 
We believe in being completely transparent about our pricing.
The cost of each Cellar Selection is based on the current market value of the wines included, together with delivery costs and a £25 tasting session fee.
 
 
In many cases, the wines being poured are mature vintages that are no longer widely available. The opportunity to taste them side by side, guided by an experienced educator and in the company of fellow enthusiasts, is what makes these evenings truly special.
 
 
UK and EU delivery only at present. Wines will be dispatched during the week of the tasting.
 
Some of these wines will reappear in future tastings in the series so this may not be your only opportunity to try them.