I recently had the privilege of participating in a comprehensive Mount Mary Vineyard vertical tasting encompassing 20 vintages of Triolet, 20 of Chardonnay, 20 of Pinot Noir and an epic 30 vintage line-up of Quintet Cabernets. I can think of worse ways to spend a Monday! The Middletons have conducted such tastings in the past, but always as a behind-closed-doors exercise for the winery team.
This time around, in addition to the Mount Mary team (pictured above is head winemaker, Sam Middleton), a tiny number of select media and one or two trade customers were invited along. I was thrilled to be among those to secure a ‘golden ticket’. It was very much a warts-and-all approach, where all existing vintages would be tasted and the only wines not assessed would be those absent from the Mount Mary cellar or where both bottles drawn up were found to be faulty. A 10am start was followed by an intensive and concentration-sapping day’s tasting, only interrupted by a 45-minute lunch break. Last notes were written at 5pm. No rest for the wicked.
It was a brilliant day and a great resource for when people ask about the drinking window of any particular Mount Mary wine. I am sure other notes and reports will emerge from the day, but here are mine – Patrick Walsh