Summer in Full Bleum - Points, Presidents and Mozart!
Getting Straight to the Points
A huge 'Hurrah!' for the imminently impressive Julia Harding MW, who reviewed our latest tranche of wines for JancisRobinson.com, bestowing our beloved Abélard 2009 with 18 pts/20, Héloïse 2009 with 17.5 pts, Astralabe 2010 with 17 pts and Aliot 2011 with 17pts!
The 2014 Rosé has also met with critical acclaim this year, despite the difficult vintage, receiving
from Royal Rhônester Jeb Dunnuck (very rare for a rose' to break 90), as well as finding a top spot in
's picks from the 2014 'Rosé Olympics', aka Chateau Brown's international blind rosé tasting, and featuring in
,
and
.
Elsewhere, our Viognier also cleared Gold at the famed International Wine Challenge, while Astralabe 2010 was jolly Olly Smith's 'Wine of the Week' in the Daily Mail, as well as being given prominent treatment in Drinks International and Offlicence News.
Nicole explores our Bleu-niverse in an in-depth piece for Germany's
chic- gastronomique
, and Andrew Jefford uses Chêne Bleu as his case study for
, with his own take on the ongoing debate about terroir, appellation and brand, and the complex relationship between the three.
Wine Without Borders: Supporting Pioneering Charities
Abélard 2007 was featured at the Films Without Borders' annual fundraiser at the private royal St James's Palace, hosted by HRH Prince Edward, to honor Dame Judi Dench. The charity transforms the lives of challenged teenagers from challenging backgrounds through movie-making workshops, giving talented participants enough experience to find internships in the international film industry. They thanked His Royal Highness with a twinset of Abélard and Héloïse, so we thank THEM :) www.filmswithoutborders.org
In July, a twin-set of Abélard and Heloise, the ultimate power couple, were gifted to President Bill Clinton by the wonderful Walkabout Foundation and Héloïse 2006 was poured at the charity's swish inaugural ball at the Natural History Museum in London, where the former President spoke as Guest of Honour. This impressive organisation funds research to find a cure of paralysis, as well as donating wheelchairs to those in need around the world. www.walkaboutfoundation.org
Chêne Bleu goes to Hollywood
After their motion picture debut at the Guggenheim Museum gala in the recent 'Annie' film, with Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz, Abélard and Héloïse are making cameo appearances in various episodes of Amazon Prime's award-winning 'Mozart in the Jungle', set behind-the-scenes at the New York Philharmonic, starring Latin hottie Gael Garcia Bernal. In Episode 7, they are the wines of choice at the garden party in the mansion of a Mayflower heiress, then of the debauched golden youth on her lawn at dawn. In Episode 4, Aliot is served alongside Champagne to wealthy Philharmonic patrons at a show-down in the posh Knickerbocker Club. Ooh-lala! What's more, our dynamic duo were invited to made an appearance at the International Opera Awards, and will again at the Best French Film in London Awards, this September - roll out the Bleu carpet :)
Chin-chin to a wonderful summer: put on those
and shimmy on into the world!
Nicole & Team Bleu