Mandarin Oriental Hotel hosts Bassin's barrel tasting

There wasn’t a barrel in site at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Saturday as The 26^th California Futures Tasting got underway. Winemakers don't actually bring the barrels with them; rather they draw samples from their most recent vintage for guests to taste and pre-order.

“It’s the 26^th year for this tasting in memory of our brother Bruce and father Addy … and we love it here at the Mandarin,” Gail Bassin told The Georgetown Dish. Benefiting The Addy and Bruce Bassin Memorial Cancer Research Fund, the event is sponsored by MacArthur Beverages (the Bassin family business since 1958) each spring. What began with 20 wineries has almost doubled, as this year 37 top winemakers from California brought their best wines to D.C. to pour for 600-800 friends and clients. All of the wines are available for purchase directly from MacArthur Beverages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To complement the A-List wines, guests enjoyed a lavish Mandarin-inspired buffet of pot-stickers, egg rolls, siu mai dumplings, honey roasted duck, pistachio-crusted lamb, artisan cheeses, charcuterie, and for dessert, delectable mini pastries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the heart of Napa Valley, Arns Winery in St. Helena makes wines from ten different blocks, with clones from Bordeaux and Napa. John Arns and Sandi Belcher developed Arns Winery after years of selling grapes to local wineries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Katy Wilson explained, "Kamen is the winery purchased by Robert Kamen in 1980 with proceeds from the sale of 'The Karate Kid' his first screenplay." In addition to their critically acclaimed Cabernet, they also produce a small amount of Syrah.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delectus's roots go back eight generations, with Gerhard's family originally making wine in Austria. Together with wife Linda, they set out "to produce stellar wines they most enjoy: distinctive red wines that are big and bold without being overpowering." The crown jewel in the portfolio is named after their daughter Julia. Cuvee Julia is "a blend of the best barrels of the vintage, usually Cabernet driven, and is always the most dramatic bottling of the year." Julia's artwork adorns the label.