The Dionysian Society, International

New Jersey verses the Judgment of Paris Challenge

In 1976 a Paris wine merchant organized a professional bline tasting of California Cabernets and Chardonnays against French Bordeaux and Burgundy with French judges.   Several of the judges perfered California over the likes of Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild and Chateau Haut-Brion. For the complete story read “The Judgment of Paris” by George Tabor. 

What would happen today if New Jersey were in the mix?  Lets find out.

First we need to know how many wines we want to pour: either 6 or 8 wines.  With six wines the math is easy two from each area.  Which eight I recommend three from New Jersey, three from California, and two from France.  To be 100% fare try to pick wines all within the same price point.  Of course I have been known to throw in an Opus One or Chateau Mouton Rothschild. 

The next thing, and most complicated part, is which grape/group to do ie Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay or, Cabernet/Merlot Blend.  Only pick ONE group per Challenge.  Easy enough when picking out wines from New Jersey and California because they put the grapes on the labels right.  Well sort of.  Under USA Law wines only have to have 75% of the main grape to be called that grape.  In otherwords, a Cabernet maybe 100% Cabernet but it can also be a blend of 75% Cabernet and 25% Merlot and not all wineries disclose this information.  So for our Challenge we will work with the 75% rule and say that any wine with 75% or more of a single grape IS 100% that grape.  Why? Because in Bordeaux ALL the wines are blends for example Chateau Latour is around 80% Cabernet, 15% Cab Franc, 5% Merlot so we would put in under Cabernet.  Chateau Palmer is around 55% Cabernet, 40% Merlot, 5% Cab Franc so it would be a Cab/Merlot Blend.  Chateau Petrus is around 95% Merlot 5% Cab Franc so it would be a Merlot.  You can sometimes find the blend on the back label or shelf tags but you might have to look online too.  For French Chardonnay use Chablis, Macon, or Pouilly Fuisse.  They are always 100% Chardonnay.

Then lastly decided if you want a sit down formal judging or a casual walk around party see other side, invite guests and have fun.