Venue: Hotel Louis C. Jacob in Hamburg, Germany

Before the tasting begins we are served 1999 Giulio Ferrari from magnums as an aperitif. This sparkling wine from the Trentino Region is based on Chardonnay. The wine is superbly balanced. It is rich, bright gold and has a creamy vibrancy on the palate. Exceptionally satisfying.

The 1999 vintage in Tuscany is not considered top-notch, so I am curious to see how these famous wines developed over the last decade.

The group of tasters assembled is relatively small – about 30. Both Piero and Ludovico Antinori are there.

“We are happy to have both brothers together,” says Anton, our host from the Ariane Abayan wine importing company. He goes on to add: “This tasting is for fun – no need to make comments just a few ohs and ahs will suffice.”

We taste the wines blind.