Louis Roederer wins 11 golds and 2 silvers at CSWWC 2020

The keenly awaited results of the 2020 Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships have now been revealed in full, naming Champagne Louis Roederer as the SPARKLING WINE PRODUCER OF THE YEAR 2020. 

This is the culmination of the multiple awards given to the Maison at this year’s awards which include:

  • Supreme World Champion for their Cristal Rosé 2004 magnum,
  • Best French Sparkling wine – Cristal Rosé 2004 magnum,
  • Best Deluxe Champagne – Cristal Rosé 2004 magnum
  • Best in Class Champagne Vintage Rosé Brut – Louis Roederer Vintage Rose 2012 magnum
  • Best in Class Champagne Vintage Blanc de Blancs Brut – Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs 2013
  • Best in Class Deluxe Champagne Vintage Rosé Brut – Cristal Rose 2004 magnum
  • Best in Class Deluxe Champagne Magnum – Cristal Rosé 2004 magnum
  • Best in Class Deluxe Champagne Vintage Blend Brut – Cristal 2004 magnum

This was on top on an astonishing 11 gold medals and 2 silver medals.  We are humbled and honoured at the results which are a reflection of the team’s hard work in the vineyards and cellar, working hand in hand with nature.

The golds were awarded for:

  • Blanc de Blancs 2013 75cl
  • Brut Premier NV magnum
  • Brut Vintage 2013 magnum
  • Rosé Vintage 2012 magnum
  • Rose Vintage 2014 75cl
  • Cristal Rose 2004 magnum
  • Cristal Rose 2008 magnum
  • Cristal Rose 2012 75cl
  • Cristal 2004 magnum
  • Cristal 2008 magnum
  • Cristal 2012 75cl

 

Silver medals went to:

  • Brut Premier NV 75cl
  • Carte Blanche NV 75cl

 

For the full results please see

Results 2020

Ramos Pinto 20 Year Old Tawny Receives 98 Points

Richard Mayson has awarded Ramos Pinto Quinta do Bom Retiro 20 Year Old Tawny Port 98 Points in the December edition of Decanter magazine.

Resplendent with its pale amber-tawny hue and just a glint of orange; appetising savoury aromas of lightly toasted almonds and slightly caramelised, mellifluous fruit. Fine and delicate, super-suave with that beautifully melded, savoury sweet fruit (the hallmark of great tawny) and an incredibly long, fresh, elegant finish. Finely and perfectly poised. Drink 2020-2022

Diamond Creek Joins the MMD Portfolio

Maisons Marques et Domaines are delighted to welcome Napa Valley’s Diamond Creek Vineyards to their portfolio of world class producers following Maison Louis Roederer’s acquisition of this iconic property earlier this year.

Maison Louis Roederer’s passion for exploring California’s best terroirs began in 1982 with their purchase of Roederer Estate in the Anderson Valley, distributed by MMD since 1995, and has become synonymous with outstanding Sparkling Wine from California. In 2019, Louis Roederer extended their Californian portfolio to include Merry Edwards from the Russian River Valley, also distributed by Maisons Marques et Domaines.

According to Frédéric Rouzaud, President & CEO of Maison Louis Roederer, “the acquisition of Diamond Creek is the continuation of our journey into the greatest appellations in the world and our relentless quest to produce great wines with strong identity. Reflective of their pioneering characters, Al and Boots Brounstein built Diamond Creek from the ground up, producing some of the most celebrated and singular wines of the region. I am delighted that, once again, we have the opportunity to carry on the opus of an iconic family and embody its values and savoir-faire”.

Roederer and Diamond Creek have long shared the same philosophy of estate driven production, family ownership and, above all, the pursuit of excellence. In 1997, Al and Boots Brounstein were among a small group of wine luminaries invited to Paris by Jean-Claude Rouzaud, Frédéric’s father, to celebrate the 30 greatest wines in the world on his 30-year anniversary at the helm of Louis Roederer. Their friendly relationship endured until Al’s passing and Jean-Claude’s retirement in 2006 and was continued by Frédéric and Boots who were exploring ways to partner until she passed in July 2019 at age 92.

“Passing the reigns onto Maisons Marques et Domaines, Louis Roederer’s UK subsidiary, is a natural progression for the distribution of Diamond Creek Vineyards in the UK,” said Nicole Carter, Diamond Creek Vineyards President.  “On behalf of Diamond Creek Vineyards, I would like to thank Armit for the many years of brand building for our wines in the UK and creating a loyal following.  Our intention is to work with Armit through their private clients as we move the distribution of the brand within our family of companies.  This is a very exciting next chapter for Diamond Creek in the UK as it is our most important international market.”

Richard Billett, Managing Director at Maisons Marques et Domaines, added, “the arrival of Napa’s Diamond Creek Vineyards is a perfect addition to the MMD portfolio and brings another dimension to our growing Californian offering. We are very much looking forward to being able to introduce these exceptional wines to our customers, building on the strong foundations laid by Armit and continuing to develop the presence of this fabled estate in the UK market”.

Contact Kate Lofthouse for more information.

Ornellaia Joins the MMD Portfolio

Maisons Marques et Domaines is pleased to announce that it has been appointed by Ornellaia as its distributor for the UK market, effective 1st September 2020.

One of the most iconic Italian wineries, Ornellaia crafts impeccable wines that celebrate the Mediterranean character of Bolgheri. The painstaking attention to detail, sustainable viticultural practices and a strong family ethos perfectly complements the MMD portfolio and further strengthens its Italian offering. Produced in limited quantities to ensure the highest quality, these long-lived wines are among the most sought after from Italy.

Joining the MMD portfolio, Ornellaia will be distributed alongside the Champagne Louis Roederer family of estates and domaines, which includes Domaines Ott*, Chȃteau Pichon Comtesse, Ramos Pinto and MMD’s renowned Italian producers Marchesi Mazzei, Pio Cesare, Tommasi Family Estates and Castiglion del Bosco.

Richard Billett, Managing Director of MMD, commented “We are delighted and tremendously excited to be entering into partnership with Ornellaia, one of the great properties of Italy. We look forward to a close collaboration in our aim to strengthen and continue to develop the distribution, positioning and impressive reputation of this prestigious estate in the UK market”.

Giovanni Geddes da Filicaja, CEO of Ornellaia echoed “Before COVID-19 added itself to the long list of challenges facing the UK trade, Ornellaia had already decided to make changes to its UK distribution strategy. Armit Wines has accompanied Ornellaia for many years and the brand’s notoriety in the UK has certainly grown during their tenure. The decision to entrust MMD UK with the distribution of its wines to UK trade, while the Ornellaia management team develops the B2C channels, demonstrates an evolution in Ornellaia’s vision for the longer-term. We are especially happy to join the MMD portfolio given the close ties we already enjoy with Frédéric Rouzaud, president and CEO, of Louis Roederer Champagne. We look forward to ensuring that Ornellaia becomes available to an ever wider audience of fine wine lovers and seeing its reputation among the UK Trade grow ever further under MMD UK

Champagne Louis Roederer BAME Bursary announced

As the curtain falls on the Louis Roederer International Wine Writer Awards, we are very pleased to announce our sponsorship of a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic wine professionals bursary, in collaboration with JancisRobinson.com and bamewineprofessionals.co.uk, a new resource launched by Jancis Robinson and wine consultant Mags Janjo to support BAME wine professionals in the UK.

The bursary is designed to help BAME candidates looking to make their way in the world of wine and the winner will receive a mentorship scheme with JancisRobinson.com and a travel bursary from Champagne Louis Roederer.

Full details are available on bamewineprofessionals.co.uk.

 

The 2020 LRIWWA winners are announced

London, Thursday 10th September 2020 – Last night the winners of the 16th and final Louis Roederer International Wine Writers’ Awards (LRIWWA) were announced during a virtual award ceremony hosted by Richard Billett, Managing Director of Maisons Marques et Domaines, and Charles Metcalfe, Chairman of the judges.

As a conclusion to 16 years of championing the world of wine communication, Louis Roederer wanted to recognise an individual who has consistently “encouraged, mentored and supported younger writers. Someone who has provided a platform for good writers to become even better and helped them along the difficult path of earning a living from writing about wine”.  The Cristal Award for Lifetime Achievement was awarded to Neil Beckett.  In the words of the judges, Neil has “revolutionised wine publishing” while “always maintaining impeccable standards” and “allowing complete freedom to his writers”.  He is “knowledgeable, curious and humble”, and “relentless in his search for new talent and diverse voices”.  He is “not only one of the most charming people in the magazine world, but he always seems to be helping others and putting them forward”.  Fitting tributes for a man who has given, and continues to give, so much to the world of wine communication.

Maisons Marques et Domaines are grateful to their generous sponsors without whom these Awards would not have been possible: Champagne Louis Roederer, Domaine Faiveley, Domaines Ott*, Ramos Pinto, Pio Cesare, Marchesi Mazzei and Montblanc.

This year saw entries from 26 countries and as Metcalfe stated, “I cannot remember so many excellent entries in my 12 years of judging”.  Those shortlisted were united in “well-crafted writing and an ability to communicate” whether their work was “technical, philosophical, critical or personal.”  It is with admiration, delight and congratulations that we announce the 2020 winners of the Louis Roederer Wine Writer Awards.

CHAMPAGNE LOUIS ROEDERER ARTISTRY OF WINE AWARD 2020

Presented by: Alexis Deligny, Champagne Louis Roederer

Leif Carlsson
Patrick Desgraupes
Thierry Gaudillère
Tim Hall
Alexandre James Rocca-Serra
Jon Wyand (Four Seasons in Côte Chalonnaise)

RAMOS PINTO ONLINE COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR 2020

Presented by: Jorge Rosas, Ramos Pinto

Jane Anson (Decanter)
Tim Atkin MW
W. Blake Gray
Richard Hemming MW

PIO CESARE CONSUMER WINE WRITER OF THE YEAR 2020

Presented by: Federica Boffa, Pio Cesare

Jon Bonné (Fortune)
Jim Clarke
Shana Clarke
Baxter Holmes
Karen MacNeil

MAZZEI INTERNATIONAL WINE COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR AWARD 2020

Presented by: Giovanni Mazzei, Marchesi Mazzei

Tim Atkin MW (Harpers)
Hannah Fuellenkemper
Martin Moran MW
Simon Woolf
Alder Yarrow

MONTBLANC EMERGING WINE WRITER OF THE YEAR 2020

Presented by: Anita Borvankar, Montblanc

Samantha Cole-Johnson
Sydney Love
Peter Pharos (www.timatkin.com)
Jordan Michelman

DOMAINES OTT * INTERNATIONAL FEATURE WRITER OF THE YEAR 2020

Presented by: Jean-Francois Ott, Domaines Ott*

Jane Anson
Tim Atkin MW
Jon Bonné
Jim Clarke (World of Fine Wine)
Alice Lascelles

DOMAINE FAIVELEY INTERNATIONAL WINE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020

Presented by: Erwan Faiveley, Domaine Faivelely

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
Lisa Granik MW, The Wines of Georgia
Victoria James, Wine Girl
Anne Krebiehl MW, The Wines of Germany (Infinite Ideas)
Jane Lopes, Vignette
Jancis Robinson MW/Hugh Johnson, World Atlas of Wine
Aldo Sohm/Christine Muhlke, Wine Simple: A Totally Approachable Guide from a World-Class Sommelier

CHAIRMAN’S AWARD 2020

Victoria James, for her book ‘Wine Girl’ (Ecco/Harper Collins)

THE CRISTAL AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

  Neil Beckett

Domaines Ott* Comes Out On Top in Rosé Masters!

We are delighted to announce that Domaines Ott* achieved outstanding results in this year’s Drinks Business Global Rosé Masters.

The Clos Mireille and By.Ott Côtes de Provence Rosés both performed best in their respective categories and won Masters Medals, with the Chateau Romassan picking up Gold.

The Clos Mireille was also awarded the accolade of ‘World’s Best Dry, Unoaked Rosé’. Patrick Schmitt described his experience of tasting the wine during the competition:

“It’s always pleasing to find out at the end of a blind tasting that some of the wines that really wowed you were ones that already have an established reputation because it confirms that such wines are genuinely great. And Domaines Ott’s Clos Mireille Rosé is a brilliant example. A pioneer in top-end, beautifully packaged, expertly crafted Provençal pale pink wine, Domaines Ott is still at the top of the game with this classic and delicious expression. Loaded with peach and pink grapefruit flavours, and a wonderful texture that starts with fresh fruit, moves into a riper, oilier feeling, and finishes with a soft but dry chalky sensation, this is a very fine glass of wine. And, my highest-scoring unoaked pink wine of 2020’s Global Rosé Masters.”

Contact Kate Lofthouse to find out more about Domaines Ott*.

Pio Cesare 2016s receive top Decanter Scores!

We were delighted to read Stephen Brook’s thoughts on the Pio Cesare Barolo and Barbaresco2016 range in Decanter’s recent article on their website!

“Although one would expect the town of Alba to be the centre of the Barolo and Barbaresco wine industry, in fact just one single winery is located there. This is Pio Cesare, which was founded in 1881 and is today run by the genial Pio Boffa, his nephew Cesare Benvenuto, and, since 2016, Boffa’s daughter Federica, who represents the fifth generation. Thus the winery has been in the hands of the same family since its foundation. The cellars themselves are of historical importance, having been constructed four storeys deep around the ancient Roman walls of the town.”

To access the full article and read Stephen Brooks’s tasting notes, click HERE

  • Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato 2016, 95 points
  • Pio Cesare Barolo Mosconi 2016, 94 points
  • Pio Cesare Barbaresco il Bricco 2016, 93 points
  • Pio Cesare Barolo 2016, 92 points
  • Pio Cesare Barbaresco 2016, 91 points

Should you wish to receive furhter information on the range, please contact your Sales Manager or Effi Tsournava

Champagne Louis Roederer aid COVID-19 relief efforts supporting Fondation Hôpitaux de Paris

Anxious to participate in the solidarity and citizen efforts, and given the extent of the means to be mobilised to deal with the Covid-19 epidemic, the Louis Roederer Foundation and its President decided to allocate exceptional financial assistance to the Fondation Hôpitaux de Paris – Hôpitaux de France.

“There are circumstances where all means are needed. The entire medical profession has been in the midst of an unprecedented fight for several weeks, under conditions of intense stress and fatigue. We have therefore decided to support the initiative “A good meal to heal well”, deployed throughout the country by The Foundation of Hospitals of France. Quality meals are prepared and delivered, noon and evening, seven days a week, to health care teams. We hope that this operation will provide the medical profession with the moral support they need.”

Frédéric Rouzaud, President of the Louis Roederer Foundation.

To learn more about the actions of Fondation Hôpitaux de Paris – Hôpitaux de France the, and to allow you, if you can, to support their initiatives, go here: https://lnkd.in/dSVWakT

 

#solidaritehopitaux

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 – An unforgettable Vintage!

Cecilia Leoneschi, winemaker at Castiglion del Bosco, comments on the vintage:
“2015 was characterized by impeccable weather conditions. A cool and rainy spring gave the vines the right vegetative push and secured a good water reserve which was ideal for the summer months characterised by high temperatures and limited rainfall. Optimal range of temperatures in September contributed to a slow and complete polyphenolic ripening. The cool breezes in the weeks leading up to harvest resulted in perfect aromatic concentration and ideal tannic maturation. Our trusted team handpicked the fruit that was exceptionally healthy, boasting small bunches and sparse berries, while the sugar content and acidity were exceptional.

Harvest started on 19th September; earlier than previous years. The variety of the soils and the various altitudes of the vineyards provided an excellent blend of grapes boasting different characteristics.

All these features make vintage 2015 a vintage to be remembered for its superb quality!”

 “Wonderful aromas of flowers, plums, terracotta and white pepper. Intense, yet ever so subtle. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a long and intense finish. Shows excellent length.”, 97 points James Suckling

A fine Brunello produced from grapes grown at 350-460 metres above sea level, in the spectacular ‘Capanna’ vineyard, which covers 42 hectares facing south/south west towards the Tyrrhenian coast. The proximity to the sea, the hot, dry summers and the sea breeze ensure an outstanding grape quality. The ‘Galestro’ soil formed of layers of sandstone and clay is rich in limestone, and is found in many of the best vineyard sites in Tuscany. Galestro gives finesse, aromatics and complexity to the wines with a great potential to age.

Click HERE fo the technical sheet.

Contact Effi Tsournava or your Sales Manager to find out more

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