Champagne Louis Roederer are awarded the Robert Parker Green Emblem 2023

Since 2021, the Robert Parker Green Emblem has been awarded to wineries demonstrating an outstanding commitment to sustainable viticulture and the long-term protection of the environment and biodiversity.

Louis Roederer, which was one of the 24 wineries to be recognised in the first global awards, has again picked up an award this year.

Announcing this award, the prestigious Robert Parker Wine Advocate said:

“At the turn of the millennium, Louis Roederer launched their plan initiating a revolution in Champagne, which aimed to take Roederer “back to the roots,” weaning the vineyards off herbicides and synthetic fertilizers and returning to cultivating the soils […]. At the same time, Cellar Master Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon began introducing biodynamic methods in the house’s vineyards in order to obtain deeper root systems and more resilience in warm, dry weather. […] The significance of Roederer’s commitment to organic farming is considerable.”

Massal selection, gentle pruning, long fallowing periods, biodynamic compost, hedgerows and low walls, beehives… It is this ‘renaissance viticulture’ that the Robert Parker Wine Advocate’s distinguished critics were recognising and applauding once again. They also pointed out that the family-owned business, today headed by Frédéric Rouzaud, was a pioneer in the Champagne region when it embarked on the organic growing certification process in 2018. As a result, 115 hectares of its historic vineyards have now received organic growing certification (the AB label in France).

“The Robert Parker Green Emblem is a wonderful tribute to the commitment and hard work of the team headed by Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. Obtaining it again this year is not only a further source of pride to us, but it is also a real encouragement for us to continue along this demanding and rewarding path towards a type of family viticulture whose objective, beyond those of organic and biodynamic practices, ©Louis Roederer / Emmanuel&Quentin
is to preserve biodiversity and to seek ever more vibrant flavours and expressions in our grapes and wines… This commitment is inextricably tied to the history of my family and the powerful link we share with Nature and these great terroirs,” said Frédéric Rouzaud, CEO of Louis Roederer.

Pio Cesare Barolo Mosconi 2019 in Top 100 Cellar Wines by Wine Enthusiast

Pio Cesare Barolo Mosconi has been included in the Top 100 Cellar Wines by Wine Enthusiast reaching the 24th place. See below the tasting notes and the full ratings.

Pio Cesare Barolo Mosconi 2019 – 97 points n.24 Top 100 Cellar Selections

Macerated raspberries combine with wild roses and crushed chalk in this evocative wine that captivates from the first sniff. Mixed cherries emerge on the palate, dusted with anise, licorice and savory herbs, wrapping up with superfine tannins that build to an extended finish that I wish would never end (Jeff Porter).

Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato 2019 – 96 points Cellar selection

The 2019 Ornato highlights how special this vineyard is with grace and structure combined into pure class. Dark cherry aromas are nestled between wild herbs, flowers and savory spices that push and pull your attention with each taste. Sturdy and well-structured, this wine is built for tomorrow, when all parts will relax into one another to reveal just how great this wine is. Drink 2028–2045 (Jeff Porter).

Pio Cesare Barolo Pio 2019 – 94 points Editor’s Choice

The historic house of Pio Cesare is making some of its best wines today. This classic highlights the purity of Nebbiolo with lifted tart red fruit notes combined with sweet and savory spices followed by subtle notes of flowers and earth. Sour cherry flavors define the palate with gentle tannins, savory herbs and a vibrant finish. Drink now–2035 (Jeff Porter).

Decanter Scores Pazo Barrantes Albariño

A team of Spanish experts tasted through 137 Albariño wines and rated Pazo Barrantes and La Comtesse in the top 10. See below notes from the judges.

Pazo Barrantes 2020 – 95 Points
The lovely Pazo Barrantes estate has been the home of the Creixell family since the 15th century. (They also own the Castillo Ygay estate in Rioja, with its Marqués de Murrieta wines.) Its 12ha of vineyards were replanted in 1982, and the winery opened in 1991. This wine spends two months on lees; 85% is then aged in stainless steel for seven months and 15% in 225L acacia wood barrels. It spends 16 months in bottle before release.

Sarah Jane Evans MW: Opulent and perfumed with golden fruit. The palate is bold and intense with ripe fruit subdued by the oak, giving richness. A complex and individual wine.

La Comtesse de Pazo Barrantes 2018 – 94 Points
Smoky oak, quince and citrus make an appealing combination on the nose. Youthful palate despite its years, showing lemon curd, patisserie and rich fruit conserve. Finishes long, with structure that will allow further ageing.

Rapaura & Castiglion del Bosco Score Gold at DWWA

Rapaura Springs and Castiglion del Bosco have won gold at The Decanter World Wine Awards.

Rapaura’s Bull Paddock Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc is the equal highest scoring New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and the highest scoring Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at 96 points. “Sumptuous peach, guava, lemon and lime with a lift of fresh herbs; intense and complex with a satin touch and a mouth-watering acidity. Long and delicious.”

Castiglion del Bosco’s Brunello Campo del Drago 2018 won gold with 96 points. “Red and black cherry with plum sauce and rich, powerful, crunchy fruit. Full body and fine grained tannins, long and much youth to evolve further”. Their 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is also one of the ‘Editors’ picks’ for June. “The freshness of the vintage singing from the glass, with finesse, aromatic intensity, and classic Sangiovese”.

The Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) is the world’s largest and most influential wine competition. Respected globally for its rigorous judging process and world-class judges – a fantastic achievement for The Bulls Paddock Sauvignon Blanc and Campo del Drago Brunello.

M’hammed Kilito wins the 2023 Louis Roederer Photography Prize for Sustainability

It is with great delight following an award event at London’s Nobu Hotel Portman Square that we can announce the winner of the Louis Roederer Photography Prize for Sustainability’s second edition. The theme this year is ‘Flow’ that represents circulation and exchange, and in our context, the constant dynamic between nature and people and illustrates the tension existing between them.

The submitted works were judged by an internationally renowned panel of judges comprising Alan Lo, Audrey Bazin, Azu Nwagbogu, Brandei Estes, Darius Sanai, Maria Sukkar, Maryam Eisler, Nadja Swarovski and Sophie Neuendorf.

Many congratulations to the winning photographer, M’Hammed Kilito for his captivating series entitled ‘Before Its Gone’. His series is an ongoing long-term project that documents life in oases with a focus on the complex and multidimensional issues of oasis degradation in Morocco and its impact on their inhabitants. Over the past few years, he has visited many oases, where he has made strong connections with their inhabitants. He was able to understand this rich environment whose water is the vital element in the genesis of oases and their biodiversity, but also its glaring realities: desertification, recurrent droughts and fires, changes in agricultural practices, overexploitation of natural resources, rural exodus, and the sharp drop in the water table are all imminent threats to the existence of oases.

M’Hammed Kilito is a documentary photographer and a National Geographic explorer based in Casablanca, Morocco. His practice focuses on the relationship between groups or individuals and their environments. His works capture narratives that facilitate an understanding of this relationship, covering issues related to cultural identity, the sociology of work, and climate change.

Darius Sanai, chair of the panel of judges, commented: “Humans lived in a sustainable way for centuries before the industrial revolution, and the ancient oases of North Africa are a testament to this. M’Hammed Kilito’s works tell the story of the beauty, history, and perilous present of these oases, binding together human imperatives, a stark highly artistic documentary photographic style, and a commentary on the damage we are causing, all in the context of this year’s theme of Flow. He is a very worthy winner in a very strong field.”

Frédéric Rouzaud, CEO of Champagne Louis Roederer and the President of the Louis Roederer Foundation awarded M’Hammed Kilito with the first prize and he will receive £7,500 to continue funding his projects.

The two runners up are Hengki Koentjoro and Yasuhiro Ogaya who were also highly praised by the judges for their interpretations of the theme.

A selection of the works of the three finalists are currently being exhibited at The White Box, Nobu Hotel Portman Square until the 31st May 2023.

Photo credit to Vladimir Gheorghiu

To see his winning photographs click here

The Louis Roederer Photography Prize for Sustainability 2023 shortlisted artists are announced.

We are delighted to announce the second edition of the Louis Roederer Photography Prize for Sustainability.

The prize, created to benefit photographers and raise awareness around key issues in sustainability, has gained a significant reputation and following in the photography and art world since its launch in 2022.

The theme of this year’s prize is ‘Flow’. Flow represents circulation and exchange, and in our context, the constant dynamic between nature and people. The relationship that ties people to their environment and the circular interaction with nature and life forces. This reciprocal motion highlights the need to receive according to our needs and give to the extent of our capacities. Flow also illustrates the tension existing between people and nature: immersed yet separated from it, somehow master yet dependent on it.

This year, twenty-six photographers competed for the prize, chosen by thirteen nominators, who were selected by our panel of judges. The panel consists of seven respected collectors and arbiters of the art scene, spanning Hong Kong, Singapore, Lagos, Paris, Berlin, Madrid, London and New York.

We are delighted to announce the six shortlisted photographers for this year’s prize:

Anastasia Samoylova (Miami)
Azadeh Ghotbi (London)
Dafna Talmor (London)
Hengki Koentjoro (Jakarta)
M’hammed Kilito (Casablanca)
Yasuhiro Ogawa (Tokyo)

To see their works please click here

Champagne Louis Roederer releases “Hommage à Camille” 2020

“Hommage à Camille” 2020
The new vintage of Louis Roederer’s single-vineyard still wines
completes a trilogy of historic vintages

Following on from the 2018 and 2019 vintages, Camille Charmont 2020 red and Camille Volibarts
2020 white are the fruit of harvests described as “supernatural” by Cellar Master Jean-Baptiste
Lécaillon, given the exceptional weather conditions.

The third opus of Louis Roederer’s single-vineyard still wines is therefore entirely in keeping
with its two predecessors, creating a landmark trilogy.

“Hommage à Camille”
Camille Olry-Roederer took over the reins at Louis Roederer on the death of her husband, Léon Olry-Roederer, in 1932, and remained at the helm until 1975. Thanks to her bright personality, vital energy and exceptional tenacity, this remarkable lady was able to modernise the Champagne House and successfully steer it through all the important events of that era. When she invited her most loyal customers to dine with her, this tremendously elegant lady liked to surprise them by serving them the still wines from some of Louis Roederer’s finest vineyards.

With the creation of this collection of Coteaux Champenois wines, her great-grandson and CEO of Louis Roederer, Frédéric Rouzaud, wanted to pay homage to this influential figure in the history of his family and of the Champagne House.

Through these two single-vineyard, single-varietal wines, Louis Roederer is able to use all its
winemaking expertise to explore new taste territories and reveal other facets of its creativity.

In 2020, Roederer’s audacity and freedom of action, combined with natural and sustainable viticulture (which Louis Roederer has been engaged in for over 20 years) and bespoke vinification, have once again resulted in a vintage like no other.

Camille Charmont 2020 (100% Pinot noir from a 0.43-hectare plot in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ) reveals a complex and magical nose and a silky smooth palate. The chalky freshness of the Champagne region provides Camille Charmont 2020 with a power that is at once bright, delicate, saline and velvety.

The soul of Camille Volibarts 2020 (from a 0.55-hectare plot of old Chardonnay vines in Mesnil-sur-Oger) is distinctly mineral, fresh and chalky. On tasting, the oaky notes subtly interwoven into the wine’s aromas create an impression of a noble and delicious reduction.

“Hommage à Camille” 2020: two great wines that are truly exceptional in terms of their freshness,
concentration and excellent cellar-ageing potential

©Louis Roederer / Emmanuel&Quentin

Louis Roederer nominated World’s Most Admired Champagne Brand 4th year in a row

Champagne Louis Roederer are humbled to have been awarded the Drinks International ‘World’s Most Admired Champagne Brand 2023′ for an unprecedented fourth year in a row in recognition of the pioneering work they continue to do in the vineyards and in the cellars.

As Giles Fallowfield noted, thanks to CEO Frédéric Rouzaud, 7th generation of the Roederer family, and chef de cave Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon “it’s no exaggeration to say that Roederer, under their combined stewardship, has been at the forefront of addressing the many issues thrown up by the challenge of adapting to climate change”.

Indeed Frédéric Rouzaud believes that “if you are not in perpetual motion, each stagnation has an impact that is magnified over time. We must constantly be thinking in terms of sustainable, long-term innovation”.

The survey to establish the World’s Most Admired Champagne Brand was done by a panel of industry experts. Many of the world’s leading sommeliers, retail buyers, wholesalers, bar managers, Masters of Wine, elite bartenders and specialist wine writes were polled. They were asked to consider quality and consistency, the strength of the branding and marketing, the price-to-quality ratio, how much they respect and admire the champagne house, and how strong the brand is in relation to its peers.

For the full announcement please see the Drinks International report here

Pio Cesare 2019 Vintage Report

We are delighted to share the 2019 vintage report and wine reviews from famed Barolo and Barbaresco producer Pio Cesare. The Barolos and Barbarescos 2019 will be released in the UK in late April 2023. Please get in touch with your sales manager or with Valeria Maffeis on va*************@*******co.uk to find out about our pre-release offer starting this month!

2019 VINTAGE REPORT

2019 is a very traditional vintage, characterised by good weather conditions throughout the growing season, excellent quality of the fruit and wines of great ageing potential. A very cold and dry winter was followed by high rainfall in March and April ensuring abundant water reserves in the soil.

May was characterised by unstable weather and cooler than average temperatures, leading to a delay in the vegetative growth of about 15 days compared to recent years, in line, however, with a more traditional trend for the Langhe region. The summer was characterised by milder weather than in recent years with average temperatures in the normal range and isolated heat peaks during late June and July.

June was warm, with temperatures above average only during the last ten days of the month and the first ten days of July. The warm weather, along with abundant water reserves in the soil, favoured lush vegetative development, a fundamental basis for perfect grape ripening. The second half of July was characterised by milder than average temperatures accompanied by a few thunderstorms. At the end of the month, the second heat wave of the summer was recorded, interrupted in the first days of August by intense, but not damaging thunderstorms.

The final part of the summer was marked by mild temperatures with sporadic rainfall and significant temperature fluctuations at night, particularly favourable for the perfect ripening of the grapes.The month of September and the first days of October were characterised by stable weather, particularly sunny days, sporadic rainfall and cool night temperatures. The achievement of optimum ripeness was slow and regular, a very important element for a grape variety such as Nebbiolo characterised by a very long vegetative cycle. Analyses carried out on the fermenting musts confirmed an excellent polyphenolic framework, very important for ensuring structure, character and longevity to Nebbiolo, and a high accumulation of anthocyanins, that makes the wines particularly bright in colour.

The Nebbiolo harvest began in the Barbaresco area on 10th October, starting with our Rocche Massalupo vineyard in the hamlet of San Rocco Seno d’Elvio in the commune of Alba, and continued over the next two days with the Bricco di Treiso vineyard; it ended on 16th October with the other estate vineyards located in Treiso (San Stunet and Bongiovanni). The harvest of Nebbiolo for Barolo began on 13 October at Serralunga d’Alba with the Briccolina and Ornato vineyards, which due to soil composition and aspect is always harvested first, followed by harvest in the vineyards of Serralunga d’Alba (Lirano and Serra), Monforte d’Alba (Mosconi), La Morra (Roncaglie) and ended on 20th October with the vineyard in Novello (Ravera).

The 2019 vintage, thanks to good weather conditions across a long growing season with no major temperature peaks and good water reserves in the soil allowed the Nebbiolo grapes to achieve perfect ripening without any stress, exalting the typical features of each vineyard, and revealing the great diversity that characterises every vineyard within Pio Cesare estates.

In conclusion, the 2019 vintage has a very traditional character, with wines that show great structure but retain great fruit concentration and floral character at the same time, along with balanced acidity, soft tannin and extraordinary aromatic complexity, all typical characteristics of great Barolo and Barbaresco vintages.

SCORES AND REVIEWS

Barolo Pio 2019 – 96 points Susan Hulme MW @susanhulmeMW

2019 is shaping up to be a great vintage in Barolo and this Pio Cesare Barolo is a delightful example. The 2019 Pio Cesare Barolo has a very immediate and appealing nose..it has a beautiful, melting texture and super refined, perfectly ripe tannins. It is a classic Barolo in the old tradition of blending grapes from several different vineyard sites, in this case, three vineyards in Serralunga (Ornato, La Serra and Briccolina) as well as sites in La Morra, Grinzane Cavour, Novello and Monforte. Among the sweet red fruit and spice is a little twist of iron and a distinctive mineral note which evokes the Ornato vineyard and adds an extra dimension. This 2019 Barolo has such an appealing, outgoing and charming personality but also the power to last. I particularly like the transformation that has taken place with the tannins – they now glide gracefully across the palate.

Barolo Ornato 2019 – 97 points Susan Hulme MW @susanhulmeMW

This 2019 Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato is a distinctive and characterful single vineyard wine from Serralunga d’Alba, first produced in 1985. It is only made in the best years and from a selection of the best plots from the Ornato vineyard. The colour is an intense, youthful and blue toned ruby suggesting a low pH and higher acidity. The nose is beautifully incisive and persistent with seductive notes of violet and transparent, cool, red fruit such as raspberry, combined with a faint iron tonic aroma and distinctive mineral notes. On the palate there is a mouth-watering, tangy long finish with a range of flavours from raspberry, blood orange, orange peel and iron. This is an energetic and lively wine with a delicately balanced structure like fine bone china. I love its vibrant acidity, the finesse of the tannins and its distinctive personality.

Barolo Mosconi 2019 – 96 pts James Suckling

This is so curated and fine, with a tannin structure that is both sophisticated and racy. Medium to full body. Silky texture with a finish that just takes off. Rose stems and dark fruit, such as plums and strawberries. Some black truffles, too. These are from vineyards planted in 1960 and 1970. Try after 2025.

Barbaresco 2019 – 95 pts James Suckling

This is a very typical Barbaresco, with a solid core of fruit. Lots of strawberries, cedar and chewy tannins. Full and structured. Excellent length, with the tannins kicking in at the end. This needs at least four or five years of bottle age. Try after 2027.

Barbaresco Il Bricco 2019 – 97 pts James Suckling

A solid and powerful Barbaresco with fantastic depth of fruit and layers of tannins. Full and so deep and focused, with great length and structure. Bark, berry, mineral and deep terroir and gravitas. Try after 2027.

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