Past tastings

Bordeaux, France

A historic Pomerol estate, Chateau Clinet, under the capable ownership of Ronan Laborde and Monique Bailly, produces wines widely considered to be among the greatest of this prestigious appellation. The use of Cabernet Sauvignon, unusual in Pomerol, adds depth and complexity to the wines, which benefit from the region’s celebrated terroirs and the estate’s gravelly plots. A meticulous winemaking process, employing techniques such as hand-harvesting, results in a deservedly famous wine.

Please join us in tasting these exceptional wines!

Bordeaux, France

The vines of Château Smith Haut Lafitte are planted in a single block of 87 hectares on a Günz gravel plateau in Bordeaux, in the Pessac-Léognan appellation. Here they produce six distinct wines, both red and white, each with their own unique blend and distinctive aromatic profile, made from seven different grape varieties. The terroir, composed of Günz gravel, boasts two astonishing features: superb natural drainage, forcing the vine roots to sink deep to extract water and mineral salts over six metres below the surface; and a “mirror effect” reflecting the sun’s rays off the gravelly soil, which ensure optimum ripening. They also use organic methods, such as home grown medicinal herbs to prevent vine diseases, alongside having an in-house cooperage to produce their own French oak barrels.

These finely tuned characteristics result in truly unique wines – come taste them with us!

Napa Valley, USA

Charles Krug founded his eponymous winery in 1861, becoming the first winemaker to plant vines in California’s now-iconic Napa Valley. Now under the careful stewardship of the Mondavi winemaking dynasty, the estate offers a perfect blend of tradition and modernity that ensures its continued place among the foremost Californian wineries. Production of both red and white wines, using the classic French grape varieties that made Napa famous, ensures that the estate exemplifies the unique style of this celebrated region.

Please join us in tasting an American classic!

This will be a balloted event

You have until Tuesday 6 February at 6pm to apply, at which point the ballot will close. We will notify you by Wednesday 7 February if you have been allocated a ticket.  You will have until Thursday 8 February, 10pm to pay for your ticket.  You MUST pay for your ticket by this time to secure your spot.  If you fail to pay for your ticket or your payment is not authorised by the deadline, your ticket will be released to the next person on the ballot.

Refund Policy (applies to both tastings): Ticket refunds will only be given if the CUWS committee is informed 48 hours or more before the event, and we can reallocate your ticket to another person. If you cannot attend after this time, you must re-sell your ticket.

Burgundy, France

Domaine David Duband was founded in 1991 and has been rapidly gaining acclaim for its organic and biodynamic wines. Employing methods such as extensive whole-bunch fermentation and avoiding overwhelming new oak, the wines bring fruit to the forefront, emphasising the famed terroirs of the vineyards of Burgundy.

The Domaine’s wines have now found their way onto the lists of over half of the three-star Michelin restaurants of France – please join us in tasting them!

This will be a balloted event

You have until Wednesday 31 January at 6pm to apply, at which point the ballot will close.  We will notify you by Thursday 1 February if you have been allocated a ticket.  You will have until Friday 2 February, 10pm to pay for your ticket.  You MUST pay for your ticket by this time to secure your spot.  If you fail to pay for your ticket or your payment is not authorised by the deadline, your ticket will be released to the next person on the ballot.

Refund Policy (applies to both tastings): Ticket refunds will only be given if the CUWS committee is informed 48 hours or more before the event, and we can reallocate your ticket to another person.  If you cannot attend after this time, it is your responsibility to re-sell your ticket.