These tastings represent an opportunity to taste rare and exceptional wines and to discover, what are considered internationally, as "Classics". The intention is to provide a series of benchmarks to enable producers, consumers and those who write about wine to refine their perception of quality.

There are only twenty seven places available - to allow sensible pours of each wine.

1. Fine White Burgundy
Eight wines from Domaine Leflaive, Puligny-Montrachet, considered internationally as Burgundy's finest white wine producer. From the excellent 2001 vintage, these rare and expensive wines are as striking expression of individual terroirs, as one is likely to find. The tasting will include Bourgogne Blanc, four different Puligny-Montrachet Premier Crus and two Grand Crus. Quite simply, these wines set the standard by which all other white wine Domaines are judged and represent the summit of subtlety, power and finesse of which Chardonnay is capable.

2. Fine Red Burgundy
Eight wines from Domaine Dujac in Morey St. Denis. Six from the magnificent 1999 vintage demonstrate different terroirs and quality levels (Village to Grand Cru) from a single grape and vintage in the hands of a great winemaker and express Pinot Noir at its seductive best. Dujac is regarded as one of Burgundy's finest red wine Domaines and their wines are sought after by collectors worldwide.

3. Fine Chenin Blanc
Nine wines: vintages 1953 - 2005 from Domaine Huet, the finest estate in Vouvray if not in the entire Loire Valley. Four different styles - Petillant Brut, Sec, Demi-Sec and Moelleux (Sweet) - demonstrate the variety's stylistic diversity and its remarkable ageing potential. This is quintessential Chenin Blanc.

4. Rhône Valley
Six classic reds from Cote Rotie to Chateanneuf du Pape plus a pair of Australian Shirazes to highlight the stylistic variety of Rhône grapes and terroirs. Syrah is arguably the variety with greatest quality potential for the Cape; the ability to add complexity through blending - evident from the southerly examples to be shown - is, as yet, a relatively unexplored facet.

5. Fine, but Lesser-known Varieties
Benchmark examples of varieties which should be interesting to South African producers - including Viognier, Gruner Veltliner, Pinot Gris, Marsanne/Roussanne, Mourvedre, Cabernet Franc, Tempranillo, Grenache, Carignan, Nebbiolo and Sangiovese.

Program

14 April 2008

14h00

Other Varieties: Benchmark examples of varieties which should be interesting to South African producers - including Viognier, Gruner Veltliner, Pinot Gris, Marsanne/Roussanne, Mourvedre, Cabernet Franc, Tempranillo, Grenache, Nebbiolo and Sangiovese.

16h00 Tea

16h30