Domaines Ott* Launches the 2018 Vintage

The launch of the highly anticipated Domaines Ott* 2018 vintage took place on a boat cruise on the Thames on Tuesday the 21st May. The event was hosted by Christophe Renard of Domaines Ott*, who talked customers and press through the complexities of the 2018 vintage and held an informal tasting of the range. This was followed by a BBQ designed to complement the wines, which was prepared on the boat’s sun drenched front deck.

The 2018 vintage was challenging in Provence due to frosts, hail, summer storms and a lack of wind. The viticultural team at Domaines Ott* had to remain vigilant at all times in order to deal with these complications efficiently and to ensure that the growing cycle was able to continue in the right conditions. Although the fruit contained less sugars than the 2017 vintage, the Domaines Ott* team achieved perfectly balanced grapes. The team was extremely proud of the excellent yields across all of the vineyards and vinification gave rise to a fruity, ethereal and perfectly balanced vintage.

The event took place in perfect rosé weather and guests enjoyed samples of the Domaines Ott* By.Ott, Clos Mireille Rosé, Blanc de Blancs and Bandol Rouge poured at the newly designed Domaines Ott* mobile bar. The Domaines Ott* 2018 Rosés have a lovely, velvety texture and flavours of candied lemon, white peach, hawthorn blossom and a pleasant salinity which lingers on the long finish.

Guests took part in a photo competition using Domaines Ott* trilby hats, floral hair wreaths, magnums of Clos Mireille Rosé and other props to help them curate a photo which captured the spirit of the evening. The winner was Anne Lomas, Director of Restaurants at The Savoy, for her light hearted selfie with China Tang’s Wine Buyer and Head Sommelier, Igor Sotric, and Mark Bingley MW, Fine Wine Director at MMD. The subjects of the image are decked out in a selection of photo props and are all enjoying a glass of the Domaines Ott* Blanc de Blancs.

Richard Billett, Managing Director of Maisons Marques et Domaines, said: The arrival of the new vintage from Domaine Ott* is always eagerly awaited, ushering in as it does, hopes of a glorious summer ahead. Aided by the evening sunshine, the guests enjoyed a taste of Provence provided by the red, white and rosé wines from one of the appellation’s truly iconic producers.

Contact Kate Lofthouse to find out more about Domaines Ott.

New Release: Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2014 – Vibrancy and Silky Tannins

We are delighted to announce the New Vintage Release of Brunello 2014 – a year with wonderful energy and finesse that gives already great pleasure. Watch this short video to learn more about the vintage and meet Cecilia Leoneschi, the Estate’s winemaker.

Cecilia Leoneschi, winemaker at Castiglion del Bosco, comments on the vintage:
“Brunello 2014 proved to be an interesting vintage technically, which, given the challenging weather conditions, underlined the potential of our land, the expression of well-exposed vineyards on rocky soils with good drainage at high altitudes (250-460m) synonymous of truly distinctive Sangiovese. The soils at the highest parts are characterised by an abundance of rock; a compact, gravelly mass that combined with scarce groundwater reserves, forces the vine to push its roots deep into the ground. The winter rainfall was filtered away through the Galestro soil and didn’t have a detrimental effect on the vines but encouraged great flowering and ripening of the bunches.The constant winds assisted greatly in drying the grapes on the bunches and avoiding higher levels of humidity that could trigger a bacteria or fungal attack. Our vineyard team paid close attention to all individual vines and adjusted the foliage accordingly to enhance the impact of the wind. The rain stopped in the last week of September and we started harvesting by hand the best quality fruit in October. The first grape selection took place during picking and the second on the sorting table.

The southwest facing rows are idealy exposed to the constant breeze, the most unique characteristic of this vineyard, and are subject to wide day-night temperature swings. As one descends the slope, the character of the rock changes, with the central swath composed largely of galestro, while rock-studded clay schists predominate still further down.

Our team has been spending a lot of time mapping and analysing the organically grown vineyards and therefore we expected that the balance the vines have achieved over the years would equip them with significant resistance to stress, parasites and durabilty under testing conditions.

Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino 2014 is a vintage of silky elegance and expressive aromas. In order to make such a distinctive wine in that year, we had to sacrifice the production of the single vineyard Campo del Drago Brunello that is made from the finest plot in Capanna and our Millecento Riserva 1100; using grapes from these outstanding plots was the key to create a Brunello of that aromatic intensity and balance. We also went to extreme measures to protect our quality hence we decided to half our Brunello production by choosing only fruit of outstanding quality.

2014 required great precision and passion in the vineyard and in nature you always get back what you have given. The aromas are forthcoming and well-defined with notes of red berries and liquorice backed by an underlying freshness. Our well-drained soils, the high altitude and the characteristic ventilation of the Capanna vineyard helped us to make a gratifying wine with a persisting finish and an appetising hint of refreshing herbs.”

Click here Brunello_2014 to download the Technical Sheet.

Should you wish to receive further information on Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino 2014, please speak to your Account Manager or contact the Brand Manager, ************@*******co.uk“>Effi Tsournava

Domaine Faiveley – A domaine to know and collect

Chris Munro, Head of Wine for Christie’s in the Americas, profiles the burgundy producers every wine lover should be looking to have in their cellar on Christies website and he notes of Domaine Faiveley:

“With a history dating back to 1825, this domaine is now under the guidance of the young and forward-thinking Erwan and Eve Faiveley. This new generation has expanded the vineyard holdings in recent years, adding Pommard and Volnay, as well as white wines from Bâtard and Bienvenues-Bâtard Montrachet. Today, Domaine Faiveley is one of the largest owners of classified vineyards in the Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune and Côte Challonnaise, with holdings of around 330 acres, one of the largest being Corton, Clos de Cortons. This vineyard produces a silky wine with plenty of fruit — a wine of real finesse.“

Delas Frères Scores Highly in Wine Spectator

Delas Frères have received some impressive scores from Wine Spectator in their March online edition:

Delas Frères, La Landonne 2016 – 96 points
“Alluring, with warm fruitcake and black tea aromatics leading off for a lush and warm core of crushed plum, cherry reduction and blackberry pâte de fruit flavors. Despite the showy fruit detail, there’s a solid iron underpinning, pretty floral notes and bright energy throughout. Best from 2023 through 2038.”

Delas Frères, Les Bessards 2016 – 95 points
“Fresh and ripe, with a delicious mix of blueberry, blackberry and cherry fruit flavors that is carried by juicy acidity and backed by fruitcake, floral and iron notes through the finish. This has detail and length, with the fruit detail echoing wonderfully. Best from 2022 through 2035.”

Delas Frères, Les Bessards 2015 – 94 points
“Polished and pure, with a beam of cassis and cherry preserves streaming through, flanked with floral and iron streaks. Long and refined through the finish, with pretty spice and apple wood details infusing the fruit flavor. Best from 2022 through 2035.”

Delas Frères, Domaine des Tourettes 2016 – 93 points
“Solidly built, with juicy and engaging raspberry, red currant and blackberry fruit flavors spreading out from the core, picking up anise, incense, mineral and floral accents along the way. The structure is fine-grained, with fresh acidity lingering nicely. Best from 2023 through 2035.”

Delas Frères, Domaine des Tourettes White 2017 – 93 points
“Suave, with macadamia nut, salted butter and verbena notes weaving around a core of creamed Jonagold apple, star fruit and Bosc pear flavors. Everything entwines seamlessly. Best from 2021 through 2028.”

Pio Cesare’s 2015s receive impressive scores!

After the misunderstood 2014 vintage that divided the wine journalists across the world, 2015 is entering the Barolo arena with a much more united front and a long list of exciting reviews from the critics. Pio Boffa of Pio Cesare has always been convinced about the outstanding of the 2014s, and he found an ally in Walter Speller who also praises “the general high quality of 2014”. Even though the two vintages couldn’t be more disimilar, one is going to be seriously challenged if tempted to find a fault in the 2015s.

2015 Harvest Report:

Winter in 2015 began with heavy snowfalls in January which supplied the land with excellent water reserves. February was mild, bringing an early start to the growing cycle, a pattern which continued until harvest. Budding began earlier than in 2014 with flowering taking place in the middle of May. There were heavy rainfalls between flowering and fruit set which was very beneficial later in the season due to drought and warm weather in late June and July. Thanks to this timely rainfall and the snowfalls in January, the vines did not suffer undue water stress. Consequently, harvest took place about ten days earlier than 2014. Green harvested was targeted and precise. High temperatures meant that the crop was exceptionally healthy, with minimal impact from fungal disease. However, canopy management was important to protect the grapes from the sun’s rays. Grapes achieved optimal maturity and ripeness, with good sugar concentration, balanced acidity and excellent structure, making 2015 an age-worthy vintage.

Pio Boffa commented on the vintage:

“It is quite difficult to compare the character of the 2015 with other vintages. 2015 was a warm vintage, really hot, but it does not currently show the typical characters of a hot vintage. It is neither jammy nor a fruit bomb. It does have evident tannins right up front, which are well integrated with good fruit concentration. This was perhaps the result of the heat on the southern exposed vineyards on the slopes of the better grand crus. The heat and the lack of humidity halted the growing process for a while and the wines show a very pleasant fruity character with this evident tannin touch – very pleasant and in classic Nebbiolo style. Quite unique as in a hot vintage, we would normally expect big jammy wines with shorter ageing potential. This is not the case for 2015 bu the exact opposite. The wines will age extremely well and for a long time, and they will keep this fruity and tannic character.

Probably 2013, 2006 and 1999 might be comparable.

There were distinctive difference in style in the various Barolo regions: Serralunga was tannic, focused and structured, as always. Monforte was succulent, bold and round, with supple round tannins and strong fruit. La Morra was very fruity but with pleasing roundness and elegance. Novello was very structured and dense. Grinzane was very feminine and elegant. In a vintage like 2015 blending the Nebbiolo from different grand crus shows the ultimate way to produce a “master classic“ Barolo. A Barolo as it should be.”

Scores:

Pio Cesare Classic Barolo:

“Complex aromas of smoke, ash and dark fruits with a precision and intensity. Layered and gorgeous. Loads of dark fruit and perfume. Full-bodied with round and wonderfully polished tannins. Wonderful length and richness. Goes on for minutes. Try in 2023 but already good now“, 96 points James Suckling

“Medium-deep ruby with orange tinges. Lifted peppery, cherry nose with quite bit of brooding concentration and minerally notes. Hint of liquorice. Quite sweet and round attack and perfectly integrated acidity on the palate, but the tannins build up notably on the finish. Elegant and with a powerful finish. Has ageing potential. Drink 2019-2026“, 17 points, Walter Speller, janicsrobinson.com

Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato 2015:

“The aromas are so complex yet subtle with wet earth, mushrooms and dark fruits. Dried flowers as well. Full body, chewy tannins that are ultra fine and powerful yet there is a finesse and beauty to them as I said from barrel. Classic, great nebbiolo. Try in 2023.”, 98 points James Suckling

“Maturing ruby with watery bricky rim. Fine, sweetly perfumed nose with earthy, minerally notes. Spicy cherry fruit on the palate with polished tannins and ripe acidity. Tannins build up on the finish but are backed-up by elegant fruit. Fantastic chew and length of fruit. Drink 2020-2030“, 17+ points Walter Speller, janicsrobinson.com

Pio Cesare Barbaresco 2015:

“A dense and layered red with plums, dried orange and lemon peel and a long and flavorful finish. Beautiful. Such impressive layers and a fantastic finish. Very exciting. Love the length. Available in February 2019. Drink in 2020, but already beautiful.”, 95 points James Suckling

Pio Cesare Il Bricco 2015:

“This shows phenomenal structure to it with fantastic linear tannins that take this wine deep and long on the palate. It’s buttressed by a beautiful balance of ripe fruit characterized by strawberry and orange-peel undertones. Chewy and focused. Needs four or five years to soften and show its true greatness. Available in February 2019. Try in 2022.” 97 points James Suckling

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