Seated Tasting
Friday, March 20
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Wines by the Glass/Bottle until close
The Ratings Game – Spring Edition
What does a 97-point wine actually taste like? How does a 90-point bottle compare to a 96? And who are the people behind the scores that shape the wine world? Join us for The Ratings Game: Spring Edition—a seated tasting that puts the world's most influential wine critics under the microscope while you sip through a lineup of genuinely exceptional, highly rated bottles.
This is one of our most interactive tastings of the year. Throughout the evening, we'll introduce you to the major voices in wine criticism—James Suckling, Robert Parker, Decanter, Falstaff, The Tasting Panel, and more—exploring how each publication approaches evaluation, what they look for in a wine, and why scores can vary so dramatically from one critic to the next. Then we turn the table: armed with your own tasting notes and scorecards, you'll have the chance to rate each wine yourself and see how your palate stacks up against the pros.
Six wines. Six critics. One question: do the scores hold up?
Wines Featured
- Laurent-Perrier Champagne Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs — Champagne, France | 95 pts – James Suckling | A zero-dosage Blanc de Blancs from one of Champagne's most celebrated houses—pure, precise, and bone dry. Suckling praised its tension and finesse, and it's the perfect way to open the evening and calibrate your palate.
- Odette Estate Chardonnay Reserve 2023 — Napa Valley, California | 96 pts – James Suckling | Odette is one of Napa's most quietly impressive estates, and this Reserve Chardonnay earned its score with layers of richness, impeccable balance, and a long, mineral finish that defies expectations of what Napa white wine can be.
- Sanford Pinot Noir 'La Rinconada' 2019 — Sta. Rita Hills, California | 93 pts – Robert Parker | The legendary Rinconada Vineyard is among the most storied sites in the Sta. Rita Hills, and this elegant Pinot Noir carries Parker's endorsement for its silky texture, bright red fruit, and the cool-climate precision that defines the appellation.
- Lionel Faury Saint-Joseph 'Les Ribauds' 2022 — Rhône Valley, France | 94 pts – Decanter | From a small, highly regarded Rhône producer, this Syrah-based Saint-Joseph earned Decanter's praise for its depth, aromatic complexity, and beautifully rendered sense of place. A wine that reminds you why the Northern Rhône is sacred ground.
- Tenuta Garetto Barbera Nizza 'Fava' 2020 — Piedmont, Italy | 90 pts – Falstaff | The Nizza DOCG is Piedmont's home for the finest expressions of Barbera, and this bottling from Tenuta Garetto is a rich, food-friendly red with cherry, spice, and a velvety depth that punches well above its score. A perfect conversation-starter about the value of the 90-point tier.
- Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 — Napa Valley, California | 97 pts – The Tasting Panel | The evening's anchor and its highest-rated pour. Far Niente is a Napa icon, and this Cabernet earned a near-perfect score for its extraordinary concentration, structure, and the kind of effortless power that only the finest Napa fruit can deliver.
Whether you trust the critics religiously, approach scores with healthy skepticism, or land somewhere in between, The Ratings Game is an evening that will change how you read a wine label—and maybe how you trust your own palate most of all.
