2021 GREAT WINES OF THE WORLD MASTERCLASSES

NAPA VALLEY – THE GLORIOUS BALANCED 2018 VINTAGE

Masterclass Tasting with JamesSuckling.com

Sep 22, 2021 (Wednesday – Public Holiday); 2 P.M. – 3 P.M.

@ James Suckling Wine Central

(6 wines to taste) / HK$488 per person

Join this special wine tasting masterclass and roundtable conversation hosted and presented by the global JamesSuckling.com tasting team.

Napa Valley is celebrated for its full-bodied, structured reds from cabernet sauvignon. It has continued to gain prestige and international recognition ever since the Judgement of Paris, which shocked the world 45 years ago. 2018 produced wines with a new level of balance and harmony, with top wines demonstrating drinkability and elegance alongside power even at a young age. We have handpicked six iconic wineries to showcase why the 2018 vintage in Napa is one to enjoy for a long time to come.

Featured Producers

Amici

Amici means ‘friends’ in Italian, referencing the friendship between winery owners John Harris and Bob and Celia Shepard. Back in the 1990s, these three wine lovers fell in love with Napa Valley and decided to start crushing grapes. The wines were so well received that they turned a pastime into a profession.

Futo

Futo Wines began in 2002 when Tom and Kyle Futo purchased Oakford Vineyards. Today, six separate vineyard sites that span more than half a mile along the hillside have soils that consist mainly of decomposed sandstone and shale from an ancient uplifted seabed. Cabernet sauvignon is the predominating varietal, with cabernet franc, petit verdot, and merlot also planted on several sites across the estate.

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Grown on a former cattle ranch, the Joseph Phelps vineyards have produced some of the most popular and age-worthy wines in California. The late founder Joe Phelps was also one of the first to produce vineyard-designated wines. The estate’s best and best-known wine, Insignia, was first produced from grapes from here, and is aged in oak barrels (25% American) for 22 months.

Quintessa

Agustin Huneeus built up a number of key brands in Chile from nothing before buying and selling numerous estates in Napa Valley. He finally settled on unplanted land in Rutherford and planted biodynamic vineyards and built a magnificent winery. This was the beginning of Quintessa, a Bordeaux-style blend which now must be counted among the best in the region.

Realm Cellars

Scott Becker is one of the smartest business guys we know in the California wine business and he is at the helm of one of the coolest and relatively new wineries in Napa Valley. Realm may very soon be considered one of the new cult wine producers, as it has made some of the most linear and transparent reds in recent vintages. These are bold yet dynamic reds that show you the class and excitement of Napa Valley.

St. Supéry

St. Supery Estate Vineyards has always received acclaim, especially the single-vineyard bottlings of cabernet sauvignon and sauvignon blanc. However, we have big expectations now following the 2015 purchase of the winery by the owners of the fashion group, Chanel. The Wertheimer family are real wine aficionados and make some amazing reds in Bordeaux at both Chateau Canon and Chateau Rauzan-Segla.

List of Wines

• St. Supéry Merlot Napa Valley Rutherford Estate 2018 94 points
• Amici Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Oakville Ranch 2018 96 points
• Futo Napa Valley Oakville 2018 99 points
• Joseph Phelps Napa Valley Insignia 2018 99 points
• Quintessa Napa Valley Rutherford 2018 99 points
• Realm Cellars Napa Valley Stags Leap District Moonracer 2018 100 points

This masterclass tasting at James Suckling Wine Central is part of the 2021 Great Wines of the World Tasting Month “Autumn Edition” – a series of curated tasting events featuring close to 100 of the world’s greatest producers and their top-scoring wines. Check out the full line-up of all masterclass tastings and other programs during the tasting month at: www.jamessuckling.com/event/great-wines-world-2021-masterclasses

Book your ticket now to reserve your seat!

For question or enquiries, contact us at eventsAsia@jamessuckling.com or via phone at 2539 7999.