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Trump’s wines trounced 7-0
Donald Trump’s Virginian wines were overwhelmingly defeated by Californian equivalents at a blind tasting held last month.
The brainchild of Evening Standard wine columnist Douglas Blyde, and executed by James Hocking, wine director at The Vineyard Cellars and The Vineyard Hotel, “The Judgement of Our Times” pitted Trump’s wines against those from a selection of Californian estates.
The tasting, the name a reference to the eponymous “Judgement of Paris,” was this time an all-American affair. Held at The Vineyard Hotel, just outside Newbury in Berkshire, Trump’s wines were well and truly trounced.
In keeping with the format of the famous 1976 tasting, the wines were tasted in pairs, matched by style and price point.
The tasting panel included Blyde and also featured Paul Michael (The Vineyard Hotel and Peter Michael Winery,) Richard Siddle (editor of the Buyer,) Juel Mahoney (Wine Woman and Song,) Alastair Viner (head buyer at Hedonism,) Romain Bourger (head sommelier at The Vinyeard Hotel) and Mike Meyeres (head sommelier at Lucknam Park.) The Golden State triumphed 7-0.
Commenting on Trump’s wines, Hocking said: “Although we are known for being Californian specialists, tasting Trump wines was a first for The Vineyard team and was certainly eye-opening. Trumps Cru Fortified Chardonnay is somewhat unusually produced; rather than traditional fermentation, the Chardonnay juice is blended with grape brandy, and then aged in bourbon barrels. The winery describes it as “truly all-American”.
Barack Obama mocked Trump’s wines last year, saying: “I mean, come on. You know that’s, like, some $5 wine. They slap a label on it, they charge you $50 and say it’s the greatest wine ever.”
The Trump Winery, managed by Eric Trump, is the largest vineyard area in Virginia. The wines are currently not available in Europe.
The wine pairings included:
2010 Trump Winery Sparkling Blanc de Blancs, Charlottesville, VA
RSP: £39.60
vs
2013 Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Blancs, Calistoga, Napa Valley, CA
RSP:£28.24
* * *
2014 Donelan Family Wines “Venus”, Sonoma County, CA
RSP: £44.80
vs
2015 Trump Viognier, Charlottesville, VA
RSP: £28.05
* * *
2013 Benovia Winery La Pommeraie Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, CA
RSP: £41.07
vs
NV Trump Winery “CRU” Fortified Chardonnay, Charlottesville, VA
RSP: £39.60
* * *
2015 Trump Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Charlottesville, VA:
RSP £28.05
vs
2013 Ferrari-Carano Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, CA
RSP: £25.03
* * *
2013 Peter Michael Winery L’Esprit des Pavots, Knights Valley, Sonoma County, CA
RSP: £69.60
vs
2014 Trump Winery New World Reserve, Charlottesville, VA
RSP: £67.65
The full results of The Judgement of Our Times tasting will appear in today’s (27 April) Evening Standard magazine.