Reflecting on a Year of Extraordinary Hosts, Generosity, and Epic Blind Pours
What a year it has been. As we closed out the first chapter of Wine Scholars, it felt less like a simple wine club meeting and more like a victory lap for a community we’ve built together.
Over the last 12 months, we’ve had 10 incredible hosts open their doors to us. The most notable part of this journey hasn't just been the vintage depth—it’s been the expression of the people behind the events. Each host brought their own unique energy, personal touches, and incredible generosity into their space. We didn't just learn about terroir; we got to know each other. Every person taking the group to the next level and allowing for amazing memories to be created. We are all so lucky for the support we built together. This "Ultimate Steak Dinner" was the perfect crescendo.
The Blind Challenge: The Ultimate Ego-Check
To keep things adventurous, we didn't just pour these legends—we tasted them completely blind. Imagine sitting down to a world-class steak with a lineup of 12 mystery glasses. The mission? Guess the varietal, the region, and the producer. When you’re dealing with "Bucket-List" bottles (minimum $100, with no upper ceiling), the pressure is on!
The diverse lineup (even with half the room bringing Napa Cabs!) hidden next to high-end Bordeaux, Super Tuscans, and rare Malbecs meant the nuances became a thrilling game of detective work. It was a masterclass in humility and discovery.
The Legendary Lineup & Critical Acclaim
Here is the "Bucket-List" roster from our anniversary dinner, featuring the updated vintages and producers shared that night. These are the wines that defined the night, challenged our palates, and reminded us why we do this.
- 2018 Alpha Omega Era: 99 Points Jeb Dunnuck - aowinery.com
- 2022 Chateau Montrose 2022 (St-Estephe): 100x3 Robert Parker, Jeb Dunnuck, Vinous - chateau-montrose.com
- 2022 Lail Blueprint: Cult Cab Producer, 2024 Number 1 wine in the world - lailvineyards.com
- 2017 4 Winds: Cult Cab Producer in Stags Leap - 4windswinery.com
- 2016 Tignanello: 99 Wine Enthusiast - antinori.it
- 2019 Jeremy Nickel Cellars: Cult Cab Producer Oakville - jeremynickelcellars.com
- 2021 Ghost Block 2021: Cult Cab Producer Oakville - ghostblockwine.com
- 2022 Chateau Tropolong Mondot: 100 Robert Parker - troplong-mondot.com
- 2015 Saffredi Fattoria Le Pupille: 100 John Fodera - fattorialepupille.it
- 2016 Devil Proof 2016 (Malbec): 100 James Suckling - devilproofwine.com
- 2021 Hundred Acre - 100x2 Decanter, The Wine Independent - hundredacre.com
- 2005 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva - Acclaimed Rioja - riojalta.com
Beyond the scores and the labels, the real magic was the shared memories. We are all so lucky for the support and the community we've built together. Each person has helped make Wine Scholars what it is today.
What’s Next? Series 2 is Calling...
The journey doesn't end here. We are officially kicking off Series 2 this Spring!
When: April
The Theme: Cult Pinots from California and Oregon. Prepare your palates for the elegant, the rare, and the high-altitude. If you thought the steak dinner was epic, wait until you see what we have planned for the Pinot showdown.
See you at the next table!
