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Chilean superstar Casa Real x Bordeaux classic Phélan Ségur – comparative tasting back to 1997 – Thursday 14th November

Comparing and contrasting similar wines from different regions is always a fascinating exercise – and we’ve lined up a blockbuster pair for you next month, in the form of two Cabernet Sauvignon powerhouses.

Château Phélan Ségur from Bordeaux and Viña Santa Rita from Maipo Valley will each present five vintages of their grand vin, ranging from the current release to library stock. This one-off collaboration will draw on vintages of the same or similar age across the last quarter of a century, providing a like-for-like comparative tasting.

Located in the foothills of the Andes, Viña Santa Rita is one of Chile’s oldest and most reputed names, best known for its flagship wine, Casa Real. Arguably Chile’s first ‘icon’ wine, and the first to be recognised as a Decanter Wine Legend, Casa Real comes from Alto Jahuel, a spot where Cabernet Sauvignon was already the primary variety by the time Santa Rita was founded in 1880. A century later, it identified the precise block that would yield the wine and ensure its stellar reputation.

Château Phelan Segur is one of the best-known producers in St-Estèphe, in the Médoc’s northerly reaches, with a history that also stretches back to the 19th century. Its Irish heritage and the classic, ageworthy structure of its wine has ensured the property a strong following in the UK, constantly outperforming its grand cru ranking.

The masterclass will be presented by Sebastián Labbé, head winemaker of Viña Santa Rita, and Fabrice Bacquey, Cellar Master at Château Phelan Segur. Sebastián studied in New Zealand, and worked as an assistant winemaker both there and in Australia before returning to Chile in 2005. Fabrice Bacquey grew up in the Médoc and was already helping the cellar master at his family estate at the age of 8, before joining Phélan Ségur in 1998 and stepping up to cellar master in 2012.

Sebastián is a keen windsurfer, skateboarder and cyclist, while Fabrice is a commited runner and Ultra Trail enthusiast. And while they have promised not to get too competitive on the night, we are very much looking forward to having them compare and contrast two world-class wines.

The wines we will be tasting:
2020 Château Phélan Ségur, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux
2019 Château Phélan Ségur, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux
2014 Château Phélan Ségur, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux
2008 Château Phélan Ségur, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux
1997 Château Phélan Ségur, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux

2021 Casa Real, Viña Santa Rita, Maipo Valley
2019 Casa Real, Viña Santa Rita, Maipo Valley
2015 Casa Real, Viña Santa Rita, Maipo Valley
2008 Casa Real, Viña Santa Rita, Maipo Valley
1997 Casa Real, Viña Santa Rita, Maipo Valley

Please note that we now offer a tasting board of charcuterie, cheese, olives and smoked crispy chickpeas to accompany your tasting. Simply select your preferred option from the dropdown menu when you book your tickets.

Thursday 14th November
St. James’s Room
18:30 – Welcome reception
19:00 – Masterclass starts
20:30 – Masterclass ends

Please note, tickets are refundable for cancellations up to 5 days before the event. Cancellations must be made in writing to [email protected]. Any cancellations within 5 days of the event are non-refundable unless 67 Pall Mall resells the ticket to another Member. This is only possible when the event is sold out and there is a waiting list.

Please note that once your order is placed, your ticket status will display as “processing” until after the event, when your member account is then charged. You will receive an email confirmation after ordering your tickets, stating that your order is being processed – please take this as full confirmation that your booking has been finalised. For any questions, please reach out to [email protected].

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