Events

Highlighting the ways in which ‘great wines take time’, the Libération Tardive Foundation is honoured to host a series of dedicated events, throughout the year.

PAST EVENTS

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Libération Tardive Foundation partnered with Elizabeth Gabay MW at a thought-provoking panel debate, tasting and reception dedicated to aged fine rosé wine.

This exclusive event brought together a panel of eight carefully chosen producers for a seated tasting and debate, where we explored the relevance of rosé in the fine wine segment. The discussion challenged perceptions, focusing on whether rosé wines can age, what tertiary flavours emerge and how rosé fits within the definition of fine wine.

Why Rosé? Why Now?
Since 2000, rosé wine consumption has surged by 25%, increasing its share of the global wine market from 6% to 10% — often at the expense of red wine, which is now generally seen to be in decline, particularly among younger demographic consumers. Production is heavily concentrated in France, Spain and the United States, which together account for two-thirds of global output and in fact just ten countries produce 90% of the world’s supply. Consumption is led by France, which alone accounts for 37%, followed by the United States (14%), while Germany and the United Kingdom together make up another 14%.

Despite being a significant and rapidly growing sector, rosé wine receives precious little recognition — let alone homage — from the leading journals, writers and institutions. Join us as we hear from producers of some of the world’s greatest rosés, exploring what it truly means for a rosé to be considered ‘fine’, how it evolves with bottle age and whether rosé has finally earned its place in the fine wine category.

Aged Rosé: Tasting the Evidence
We were joined by the following producers who brought with them two library stock aged rosé and one recent release: Domaine Alexandre Bonnet, Château d’Esclans, Cantina Letrari, Château Musar, Château Pesquié, Château Pibarnon, Lopez de Haro, and Chêne Bleu.

The Conclusion? The debate was thorough and lively and concluded that indeed many rosé wines can be considered “fine” but this requires patience, intent and belief. We need to start looking at Rosé wine not as one single category but separate out the fine rosés from the rest as we do for red and white wine. To treat a fine rosé seriously we should respect it and revel in the delightful subtleties it can develop as it ages. As Gabay concluded – “rosé doesn’t need to imitate anyone, it can be fine on its own terms.”

Thank you to all the members of the panel and to all the producers who contributed to this fantastic and insightful evening.

Chair: Rebecca Palmer
Panelists: Richard Bamfield MW, Elizabeth Gabay MW, Siobhan Turner MW, Pauline Vicard (ARENI Global)

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The Master Chef of the Arkle restaurant and team presented the following dishes paired with wines from 2012 back to 1997

Attendees comments included:

What a splendid evening – most illuminating and entertaining – menu was exceptional – service masterminded by Boris the Sommelier and Restaurant Manager Piotri Kasprzyk – a triumph for the team Grosvenor and a memorable occasion for all who attended.

Wines served:

Taittinger Brut Vintage 2012 Champagne

Kallstadter Saumagen Riesling 2015, Pfalz

Chateau Pape Clement Blanc, 2012, Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux.

Domaine de Montille, Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens, 1997
en magnum, Burgundy

Chateau Leoville Poyferre, 2008, Saint Julien Bordeaux.

Klein Constantia, Vin de Constance 2014 South Africa

Read more…

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Libération Tardive Foundation proudly partnered with top producers from Kent, Sussex and Hampshire to launch the new 10+Wine campaign … an initiative proving that English sparkling wine aged 10 years plus not only rivals the very best in the world but that it also rewards patience.

Tasting Lineup: Aged & Exceptional
Guests indulged in:

Gusbourne
• 2013 Blanc de Blancs LD
• 2016 Blanc de Blancs
• 2019 Blanc de Blancs
Breaky Bottom
• 2010 Cuvée Reynolds Stone
• 2019 Cuvée Koizumi Yakumo
• 2016 Cuvée Marraine Pooks
Hattingley Valley
• 2010 Classic Cuvée
• 2013 Brut Rosé
• NV Classic Reserve

Dinner Paired with Iconic Still Wines
After the tasting, guests enjoyed Gusbourne Chardonnay Guinevere 2016, Gusbourne Pinot Noir 2016 and Hattingley Valley Entice NV showcasing the breadth of English winemaking beyond sparkling wine.

Proving English Sparkling Wine can age
With 70% of England’s vineyards planted in the last decade, the question of ‘ageability’ remains open and this event sought to explore the concept in depth. By showcasing wines from three leading producers across different counties and with contrasting business models, this tasting aimed to demonstrate just how beautifully English sparkling wine evolves over time.

Discovering how time elevates English sparkling wine with the 10+ Wine campaign by the Libération Tardive Foundation. A truly rare opportunity to taste aged vintages.

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“At the beginning of the month the organisation known variously as Libération Tardive and 10 Plus, designed to keep corks in bottles until wines are fully mature, hosted a tasting of mature English sparkling wines in the very smart, recently restored, wine vault under Skinners’ Hall in the City of London. …Certainly this tasting of wines from Breaky Bottom, Gusbourne and Hattingley demonstrated well English sparkling wines’ ability to age, although there was an interesting inter-MW discussion about its lower levels of autolysis.”
Jancis Robinson MW OBE
Source: Jancis’s diary – April 2025

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“The Libération Tardive Foundation champions ageing, their slogan being ‘good wine takes time’, this was a fascinating and informative tasting and one it would be valuable to repeat every year.”
Lisse Garnett
Source: Wine Anorak

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“We are all delighted that you invited Gusbourne to participate, and we are certainly very pleased that we did. It was a fascinating evening and we all very much enjoyed it too”
Jonathan White, CEO at Gusbourne

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A landmark debut for the Libération Tardive Foundation gathered Masters of Wine, leading wine writers and devoted connoisseurs for a rare series of vertical flights of Château Grillet, the iconic Rhône monopole. Hosted in the Lutyens Room at 67 Pall Mall, the tasting presented twelve vintages from the finely etched 2018 back to the quietly powerful vintages of the early 2000’s, including a final flight served blind.

“Château Grillet rarely features in basic training” — Hugh Johnson OBE

Insights from Jancis Robinson MW OBE, John Livingstone-Learmonth, Anne McHale MW among others affirmed the estate’s truly distinctive terroir and remarkable ageing potential. The 2009 vintage was widely praised as a benchmark, while the 2015 divided opinion with its oxidative richness and power. Discussions turned to the transformative effect of time, with wines gaining in texture, aromatic nuance and finesse.

Since its acquisition by the Pinault family, Château Grillet has redefined the potential of single-parcel Viognier revealing both opulence and poise marked by precision, energy and time.

The event marked the official launch of the Foundation’s mission: to advocate for the global availability of aged fine wines and to inspire producers and merchants to hold back stock for release at optimal maturity. As Christopher Burr MW remarked, “Great wines are rarely at their best young — but with patience, they can become sublime.”

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“This impressive inaugural tasting of back vintages of Château Grillet amply proved the point and raison d’être of Liberation Tardive. Great, age-worthy wines really do need time in bottle to show their best. There’s no doubt in my mind that more attention needs to be paid to this by the trade and consumers”

“In this era of hedgies and speculators we want to encourage people to lock up stocks of these sort of wines. They’re not going to be cheap but we want to ensure that fully mature wines are on the market.”
The Wine Conversation — Let’s Talk About… Great Wine Takes Time

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“At a vertical tasting of Château Grillet at 67 Pall Mall in London at the end of June, a small gathering of us tasters were told by Buckwell that Libération Tardive celebrates the idea that good wine needs time”
John Stimpfig
Source: The Wine Conversation

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