▻ The 1945 First Growth Bordeaux Tasting
Sarah Kemp in conversation with Jane Anson
Episode Summary:-
A true tasting of a lifetime: Jane Anson was the only journalist present amongst the châteaux owners and estate directors at a historic tasting of the 1945 Bordeaux First Growths at Kensington Palace in London on November 3rd. She talks to Sarah Kemp about this extraordinary evening put on by collector Arif Babayev to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Babayev is a Board Member of the upcoming Golden Vines auction, and on November 7th a smaller tasting of 1945 First Growths, along with Rare Champagne, will be auctioned to raise money for the Gerard Basset Foundation. www.auction.liquidicons.com.
Jane explains how each sample was checked by the château and how there was true excitement as everyone realised this event would probably never be replicated. The Germans left Bordeaux on 8th August 1944, so it was more like a normal vintage, except that many of the men were still away fighting. The vintage was made largely by women and some German prisoners of war. Jane describes the vintage conditions, including the frost and snow which fell on May 1st and 2nd. This was followed by a heatwave in July, where the temperature got up to 36 degrees centigrade. August was a little cooler, with little rain.
Jane discusses how the bottles varied, most apparently with the Yquem looking oxidised, until she realised it had originally been put in a blue bottle. Did the legendary 1945 live up to its reputation? Yes, Jane relates, but she also praised Chateaux Haut Brion and Yquem and revealed how all the wines had retained their magic. 1945, a truly great Bordeaux vintage.
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