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Broadbent Michael

The British wine critic Michael Broadbent (1927-2020) was one of the most famous wine tasters and wine writers in the world. He began studying architecture in 1948, but stopped and began working as an apprentice wine merchant with Tommy Layton in 1952. In 1955 he joined Harvey's, where the famous wine expert Harry Waugh (1904-2001) was his mentor. Here he rose to the position of sales director for Great Britain.

In 1966, Broadbent moved to Christie's auction house in London and became director of the wine department. Here he was and still is responsible for countless auctions. In 1970, he became Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine, and was awarded the title of Master of Wine in 1960. He was also an honorary member of the Académie du Vin de Bordeaux. In 1984, he received the "Grand Prix de l'Académie Internationale du Vin". His famous wine book "Weine prüfen, kennen und genießen" (Wine Tasting 1960) is an international classic and longseller and has already gone through more than 40 editions in ten languages. He wrote monthly articles for the British magazine Decanter. From 1986 he was President of the International Wine & Food Society and since 1991 Chairman of the Board of the Wine & Spirit Trades Benevolent Society.

Broadbent Michael - Porträt und Cocers

Broadbent kept records of the wines he tasted until the day he died. By 2004, he is said to have collected over 85,000 entries in 133 volumes. He not only recorded wine notes, but also the occasion, the people present, the food and also visual and atmospheric impressions. These notes are a remarkable historical document in which great wines of the world are described up to the beginning of the 18th century. In 2003, the 560-page work "Vintage Wine: 50 Years of Tasting the World's Finest Wines" was published, containing the absolute top wines and highlights of this long tasting period.

He almost never swallowed during the tastings. By his own admission, he was very moderate when drinking wine and very rarely drunk. He said: "For me, every tasting is a revelation. It's actually the wine that does the talking. I just provide the translation. I see myself as a chronicler and communicator, not a wine critic. Michael Broadbent has achieved true mastery in the field of wine evaluation and the question of "which wine goes with which food" (see also under wine with food). However, his assessment is not based on one of the usual point systems, but in the form of one to five stars. See also under literature and winemaking personalities.

Broadbent: By Dirk Schneider (ds-foto)
own work by ds-foto: wordpress, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

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