“It was more than just a win. It was a triumph that forever changed the world of wine and the history of Napa Valley”.

May 2026 marks the 50-year anniversary of the Judgement of Paris, the legendary blind tasting which matched a group of little-known Californian wineries against some of France’s most celebrated. When British wine merchant Steven Spurrier organised a blind tasting at Paris’s InterContinental Hotel, he simply wanted to celebrate the American Bicentennial. Largely expected to confirm French supremacy, instead the outcome brought international acclaim to the Californian winemakers, their wineries and the Napa Valley. It is widely regarded as pivotal to the rebirth of American winegrowing and winemaking. Such its it legacy that The Smithsonian (National Museum of American History) house bottles of the winning wines in its collection today.

While names like Chateau Montelena and Stag’s Leap often steal the headlines for their first-place finishes, the ongoing legacy of that historic afternoon also belongs Clos Du Val, who Boutinot have proudly had in our portfolio for over 20 years.

In 1972, John and Henrietta Goelet challenged young Bernard Portet, a ninth-generation French winemaker, to travel the world and find a vineyard site that could produce strikingly fresh and elegant Bordeaux-style wines. A two-year global search ensued, ultimately leading Portet to the Stags Leap District before it was recognized as world-class wine region it is today. It was here that Clos du Val was founded in 1972. Their inaugural wine, the 1972 Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon, was part of the legendary 1976 Judgment of Paris blind tasting.

The legendary 1970s vintages from Clos Du Val showcased just how well these New World wines could age. At the 10-year anniversary tasting in 1986, this infamous “rematch” was designed to prove the 1976 American victories were beginner’s luck, Clos Du Val’s 1972 Cabernet Sauvignon went on to take first place overall.

Today, the Judgment of Paris remains one of the most celebrated and cited events in American wine history. Half a century later, while many of the original wineries have passed into corporate hands, Clos Du Val remains proudly family-owned, by 3rd generation Olav Goelet. The focus continues to be on producing Bordeaux inspired blends from the Napa Valley and representing exceptional value from the region.