2014: A Great Vintage for Quartet

An article by Lauren Eads in The Drinks Business brings good news for Roederer Estate’s signature Californian sparkling wine.

“Despite a devastating earthquake, severe drought and wild fires, Californian vintners are hailing the 2014 harvest as one of the best ever seen, calling it the “third great vintage of the decade”.

The exceptional yield came as a result of a mild winter, producing the earliest harvest on record, and even ripening caused by moderate temperatures and minimal rainfall in September.

The president and director of winemaking at Francis Ford Coppola Winery Corey Beck said that 2014 was the best vintage he had ever seen in 17 years working at the winery.

With 2014’s batch of Quartet picked and fermenting as we speak, we eagerly await tasting the results of this fantastic year!

Click here to see the full article:
http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2014/10/california-hails-excellent-2014-vintage/

Tim Atkin MW – Pazo Barrantes 93 Points

Tim Atkin MW tasted our Pazo Barrantes Albariño this month and awarded it an amazing 93 points!

He said “owned by the same family that makes Marqués de Murrieta in Rioja (they were originally from Galicia). It’s a white pepper scented, bone dry style with plenty of texture and weight on the tongue, showing notes of stone fruit and pear and a crunchy, stony finish.“

Pio Cesare Barolo Masterclass

David Tomatis of Pio Cesare winery took to the floor at West London Wine School to give a Pio Cesare masterclass to a room of Barolo enthusiasts.

David talked about the history of the estate, now in run by fourth generation, Pio Boffa.

David also mentioned the variations in characteristics of the grapes grown in the two different soil types and the divide being the Alba-Barolo road which runs along the valley, separating La Morra and Novello to the west and Serralunga d’Alba and Grinzane Cavour to the east.

In the communes of La Morra and Novello the soils are younger, from the Tortonian period, largely calcareous marl, give perfume and delicate fruit characteristics to the wines, while the grapes from , Grinzane Cavour and Serralunga are grown in poorer, more compact and less fertile soils with more clay, giving structured wines with more tannin and greater ageing potential.

He explained that at Pio Cesare, they chose to blend parcels from four communes so that the unique qualities of the grapes from each vineyard combines to create a harmonious and perfectly balanced wine representative of the Barolo region.

Wines tasted:

• 2013 Gavi
• 2011 Barbera d’Alba ‘Best Value Wine’
• 2010 Nebbiolo Langhe
• 2009 Barbaresco
• 2009 Barolo ‘Wine of the Night’
• 2013 Moscato d’Asti

Chateau Pichon ‘On the road’ with Robert Parker

Wine critic Robert Parker has announced a plan to bring his “Grand World Tour” to London early next year.

During the tour, Parker will host a black tie “Gala Hedonist’s Dinner” at two-Michelin starred restaurant The Ledbury, where guests will enjoy a glass of Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 1982 along with seven other outstanding wines, handpicked by Robert himself.

Click the link below for more information.

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2014/09/parker-brings-100-pointer-roadshow-to-uk/?src=FWF&date=3-10-14

The creation of Brut Nature

Watch this video to learn more about the unique co-creation process for Louis Roederer’s Brut Nature 2006 made in conjunction with Philippe Starck – the first new product in 40 years.

93 Decanter Points for Pazo Barrantes Albariño

In the October edition of Decanter, Spanish expert Sarah Jane Evans MW selected her hottest buys under £25 and our very own Pazo Barrantes Albariño was the only Albariño selected.

Marqués de Murrieta, Pazo Barrantes, Rías Baixas 2013
93 Points

“A rounder expression of Albariño. This has all the yellow and white stone fruit of the variety, overlaid with a velvety mouthfeel and a creamy richness from four months on the lees.”

Search MMD