The Judgment of Paris Redux
Sommeliers, vintners and oenophiles all know May 24, 1976 as the legendary “Judgment of Paris.” On that date, California winemakers shocked the world by beating established French wines in a blind tasting. It was a total stunner. No one thought it could be done. That day can be considered a birthday of the Napa Valley region, as upstart winemakers began to crop up, armed with the knowledge that they could create a product as good or even better than the most well-respected wineries.
Forty years later, on May 24, 2016, it happened again. Mira, a relatively new winery from Napa, hosted a 40th anniversary tasting of seven of the top wines from both California and France. (Held in South Carolina, the event was nicknamed the “Judgment of Charleston“). They also included their own wine, a 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Mira’s 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon actually marks the first time the Schweizer family has ever allowed a winery to designate Schweizer Vineyard label. They picked a good one to start. Against all odds, Mira Winery’s entry in the blind tasting finished third, behind only the Pétrus 2012 (a Merlot) and the 100-point Château Haut-Brion.
