Happy New Year - Here's to a Bleu-tiful 2014!
Time to kit up against the Wintery Elements in our latest pair of woolly Braggy Boots: here's our 2014 round-up of Press and Awards...
Critics' Corner
We're over-the-(bleu)-moon that our little winery has been given such elegant and prominent treatment in The Wall Street Journal! Respected journalist Will Lyons hailed us as the world's first potential "Super Rhone", suggesting that our "long-term project run by serious people" may follow graciously in the pioneering footsteps of Mas de Daumas Gassac, Marchesi Antinori and Sassicaia. (Beautiful artwork by Jean-Manuel Duvivier - below - as well.)
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Elsewhere, Abelard made the cut in The Sunday Times Magazine (UK) and Terre de Vins (France); the newest addition to our little family of wines, Astralabe, was chosen as Editor's Pick in a very thoughtful piece about gendered drinking patterns in Vantage Magazine (UK), went wining and dining with Square Mile Magazine (UK), Christmas shopping with The Cheshire Magazine (UK) and was picked as an 'Absolutely Cracking Wine from France' in The Independent Magazine (UK). Oh, and The Hong Kong Times joined us for International Grenache Day (the next one will be Friday, 18th September, y'all!), our Rose' came out on top in The Drinks Business, featured in the Sunday Times Magazine Cool-o-meter, was favourited on Jancis Robinson.com.... and, in general, our wines have now landed on Swiss and Swedish shores! (That would be figuratively speaking, of course.) Phew.
And the big one... We're a Bettane & Desseauve 'Producer of the Year' for 2015
Having previously praised Chene Bleu as "The Birth of a Grand Cru", we're thrilled that the inestimable Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve have chosen us as a "Producer of the Year" in their 2015 Guide, praising our "ambitious and brilliantly vinified" wines! A tremendous honour and a Big Deal.
Going for Gold
Every wine we made this year got Gold or Best-in-Show around the world - woohoo! Yes, lists are often not the most interesting thing to read, but, for the record, here's how our cuvées fared out in the world in 2014:
Abelard 2007: 95 Parker Points; Gold at International Grenache Competition.
Heloise 2007: 95 Parker Points; Gold at French IGP.
Rose' 2013:Top scoring Rose' among pre-eminent roses of the world; 17.5 Points on Jancis Robinson.com (and top pick); 91 Parker Points; Top pick in Drinks Business and many more.
Aliot 2010: Gold at International Wine Challenge; Gold at Concours Mondial de Bruxelles; 93 Parker Points; Editor's Pick by James Molesworth in The Wine Spectator; 93 Wine Spectator Points.
Viognier 2012: Gold at International Wine Challenge 2014; Gold at Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2014; 92 Wine Spectator Points.
Astralabe 2009: Gold at Grenaches du Monde Award 2014; Editor's Pick in Vantage Magazine
Well, that's probably enough for now but, if you're reading this, a tremendous THANK YOU for being part of the Chene Bleu Family - whether you've been with us since the beginning, or are happening upon this out of curiosity, we certainly couldn't have come as far as we have this year without each and every one of you taking the time to check us out, taste our wines and spread the word in your own ways. Yes, this is probably the sort of phrase a lot of people are used to hearing around this time of year, but we do really mean it, right from the bottom of our barrels.
A very happy January to all!
Team Bleu