Again back at you with the best of wines news of France. By the way for the non Romans LXIX is no 69, The wines of France are just super simply awesome and a great tradition. Often imitated, some time equaled ,but never surpass! Therefore, let me tell you some news shall we. Hope you enjoy it as I.
At my beloved Épernay, you have the wonderful Avenue de Champagne, a symbol of world-renowned heritage. With its kilometers of cellars carved into the chalk and its prestigious houses, the Avenue de Champagne embodies the heart of Épernay’s wine industry. In Épernay, the Avenue de Champagne stands out as one of the most prestigious avenues in France. From Moët & Chandon to Perrier-Jouët, De Castellane, and Pol Roger, this avenue, only 1.6 km long, is home to some of the most illustrious names in Champagne winemaking. Since July 2015, the Avenue de Champagne has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the category of “Living, Evolving Cultural Landscape.” It is one of the three most representative sites showcasing the spaces and work involved in the production, development, and marketing of Champagne wine. The Avenue de Champagne in Épernay originated in the 18C with the still wine merchants who transitioned to sparkling wine merchants. These merchants found space outside the city walls, in the Faubourg de la Folie. Previously named Rue de la Folie, then Rue du Commerce, it was only in 1925 that this thoroughfare was officially named Avenue de Champagne. Beneath the cobblestones of the Avenue de Champagne, more than 110 km of cellars have been carved into the chalk, where some 200 million bottles are stored. The Avenue de Champagne is lined with private mansions and châteaux, the result of a kind of competition among the merchants to build the most prestigious residence. Jean-Rémy Moët was the first to settle on the avenue and used his residence not only as a home but also as a marketing tool to promote his champagne. Other wine merchants followed suit, commissioning renowned architects to design the most elegant homes and gardens. The official Epernay tourist office : https://www.epernay-tourisme.com/en/
Roederer focuses on the art of hospitality by creating a Hospitality and Wine Tourism department. The Roederer Collection group has entrusted Alexandre Peyrussan with the creation of a Hospitality & Wine Tourism department. The group, which brings together twelve wine estates and more than 1,000 employees worldwide around Maison Louis Roederer, announces the creation of a Hospitality & Wine Tourism department. Roederer Collection is no longer limited to the production and distribution of fine wines ; the group is now investing in enhancing the heritage and tourist appeal of its properties. Two concrete projects already embody this shift: the complete renovation of the Hotel Christiania in Val d’Isère, acquired in 2018, and the construction of a new five-star establishment in Méribel. Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and Bollinger have invested in visitor experiences, restaurants, and guesthouses as well. The official Roederer collection ; https://roederer-collection.com/page/0
Laurent-Perrier is recreating the perfect year with the Grand Siècle cuvée. When he launched the Grand Siècle cuvée in 1959, Bernard de Nonancourt was convinced that by vintage-dated their special cuvées, his competitors were contradicting this philosophy. Iteration 26 thus combines 2012 (65%), 2008 (25%), and 2006 (10%). Chardonnay makes up approximately 60% of the blend. Each time, the selection focuses exclusively on Grand Cru vineyards. For Iteration 26, the house plays on the alliance of Mesnil-sur-Oger, known for its minerality, Oger, for its more sapid and vibrant character, Avize, a model of balance, and Cramant, all about creaminess. The Pinot Noirs reflect the finesse of Tours-sur-Marne, the creaminess of Ambonnay, and the livelier, more saline character of Verzy, a sort of counterpart to Mesnil for Pinot Noir. Oak is excluded in favor of stainless steel. The wine’s remarkable freshness allows for very long maturation on the lees in the bottle: ten years for the 75cl format, and a few more years for the magnum. And for those who want to go even further, with Grand Siècle Les Réserves, Laurent-Perrier even offers a third window of maturity, after twenty years of aging! Official Laurent Perrier on Grand Siécle : https://www.laurent-perrier.com/en/champagnes/grand-siecle/
Château Les Farcies du Pech Pécharmant: Between Nature and History, At the gateway to Bergerac, Les Farcies du Pech spans 15 hectares of vineyards and 20 hectares of woods, meadows, and orchards. Housed in a 16C Carthusian monastery, the estate has always combined vineyards and landscape. Château Les Farcies du Pech 2020 A traditional blend of the Pécharmant appellation. Cuvée ELIXIR 2022 A more precise expression, exploring a more contemporary interpretation of the terroir. The official Château Les Farcies du Pech : https://www.farciesdupech.fr/
One of my all time favorites has a superbe wine out ! Château Cantemerle 2015 because it is a great vintage, recognized and appreciated, which remains accessible just like their estate. A 10-year-old wine! The connoisseur can discover the accomplished suppleness of this vintage, its ripe richness, and its wonderfully softened tannins. The official Château Cantemerle : https://www.cantemerle.com/en/the-cantemerle-style
For over forty years, Château Montus and Château Bouscassé have been moving forward with a clear vision: to restore Tannat and Petit Courbu to their rightful place. This work was initiated by Alain Brumont, now joined by Antoine Veiry Brumont, who is pushing the estate’s ambition towards an even more precise and open approach. Montus draws its strength from the rolled pebbles: wines that are taut, direct, and possess a distinctive energy. Bouscassé finds its balance in the grey clay soils: a more composed, rounder style, but just as precise. Montus 2021 , a contemporary interpretation of Tannat, more refined than in the past. Montus Sec 2020 (100% Petit Courbu) , a dense white, driven by a distinct tension. Bouscassé “Les Jardins Philosophiques” 2019 , Petit Courbu and Petit Manseng for an expressive white, built on verticality. The official Brumont wines : https://www.brumont.fr/en/
And my grand daddy on their lists since 2012 ! Château Mouton Rothschild unveils its new label. For the first time since 1945, a Portuguese artist, Joana Vasconcelos, has created a work for the Château Mouton Rothschild label. Joana Vasconcelos, a Portuguese visual artist born in 1971, designed the label for the 2023 vintage of Château Mouton Rothschild with a creation entitled Paraíso, (paradise) ,a distillation of her vibrant artistic world. Her design brings together, around a bunch of grapes, the fundamental elements of the birth of a great wine: earth and water, the sun’s rays and the coolness of the night. To these natural forces is added the hand of man, discreetly suggested by the point of a triangle, a symbol of human intervention in the cycle of nature. Present in numerous private collections, her creations have been exhibited in leading institutions in Venice, London, Paris, Rotterdam, São Paulo, Istanbul, and Moscow. Awarded the title of Commander of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator in 2009, and then Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in 2022, Joana Vasconcelos has directed a workshop employing over fifty people since 2006 and created the Joana Vasconcelos Foundation in 2012, dedicated to supporting social causes, awarding scholarships, and promoting art for all. In 1924, to celebrate its first bottling at the château, Baron Philippe de Rothschild, father of Baroness Philippine, who directed Mouton Rothschild until her death in 2014 commissioned the renowned poster artist Jean Carlu to design the Mouton label. This initiative, premature, did not lead to further development. In 1945, Baron Philippe decided to crown the vintage label with the “V” for Victory, designed by the young painter Philippe Jullian. Since then, every year a different artist has been invited to create the label for the latest vintage available. Jean Hugo, Leonor Fini, and Jean Cocteau, personal friends of Baron Philippe, were among the first to be approached. They were followed by a diverse range of artists from all walks of life, including Salvador Dalí, César, Joan Miró, Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Pierre Soulages, Francis Bacon, Balthus, Jeff Koons, David Hockney, Annette Messager, Olafur Eliasson, Peter Doig, Chiharu Shiota, and Gérard Garouste. The choice of artist now rests with the three children of Baroness Philippine: Camille Sereys de Rothschild, Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, and Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild. Château Mouton-Rothschild , the Premier Cru Classé of the Médoc, has 84 hectares of vines in Pauillac, planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (80%), Merlot (16%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Petit Verdot (1%). The official Château Mouton Rothschild : https://www.chateau-mouton-rothschild.com/
LVMH acquires 25 hectares of vineyards in Limoux for its alcohol-free wine, The French Bloom brand of alcohol-free sparkling wines is taking the step of integrating its production with this acquisition in Limoux, where it already sourced its base wines. The first production is scheduled for September 2026. The super-premium alcohol-free sparkling wine brand French Bloom, now part of Moët Hennessy, the wines and spirits division of the luxury group LVMH, announced in a press release “the purchase of an estate of approximately 25 hectares” from a retiring Crémant de Limoux producer in the town of Tourreilles. The official French Bloom : https://www.frenchbloom.com/
The Michelin Grape 1, 2, and 3 Grapes will become a new benchmark for wine lovers in selecting the best wine estates. A rigorous and transparent method, based on five precise criteria, is applied to guarantee an independent and consistent selection. Starting in 2026, the first regions to be highlighted will be Burgundy and Bordeaux. With this distinction, the Michelin Guide aims to highlight unique stories, knowledge passed down through generations, as well as decidedly innovative new approaches and contemporary practices, all evaluated under a strict and independent methodology. The Michelin Guide now offers wine lovers a reliable reference: 1, 2, or 3 Grapes, and, in addition, a selection of recommended estates. Three Grapes: Exceptional producers. Whatever the vintage, wine lovers can have complete confidence in the winery’s wines. Two Grapes: Producers of excellence, distinguished by their exceptional quality and consistency within their region. One Grape: High-quality producers who craft wines with character and style, especially achieved in the best vintages, are awarded this distinction by the Michelin Guide, which applies five criteria uniformly worldwide. Agronomic Quality: The evaluation focuses on soil health, vine balance, and vineyard care. These are all essential factors that directly influence wine quality. Technical Mastery: The evaluation focuses on the technical level of the winemaking process. Inspectors look for rigorous and well-executed vinification that reflects the terroir and variety, without defects that alter its expression. Identity: The Guide values winemakers who create wines capable of expressing the personality, place, and culture that have shaped them. Balance: Evaluation of the harmony between acidity, tannins, oak, alcohol, and sweetness. Consistency: Wines are evaluated across several vintages to verify their consistency, even in challenging years. The Guide highlights wines that improve with age. For 125 years, the Michelin Guide has recognized the places and talents that embody excellence in gastronomy and hospitality, with the Michelin Stars created in 1926 and the Michelin Keys launched in 2024. In 2019, the Michelin Sommelier Award was added to recognize professionals whose talent enhances the dining experience through exemplary wine selection and service. The official Guide Michelin on the 3 grapes : https://guide.michelin.com/fr/fr/article/news-and-views/le-guide-michelin-lance-sa-nouvelle-distinction-dans-l-univers-du-vin
And if cannot get to the properties themselves which is a blast while in Paris you can get your best here, recommended by yours truly for many years, Le Repaire de Bacchus Saint Dominique at122 rue Saint-Dominique 7ème arrondissement, Open since 1997, with about 1300 lables, Open Tuesdays 16h00-20h15, Wednesdays to Fridays from 10h30-14h/16h-20h15, Saturdays 10h00-14h/16h-20h15, Sundays 10h-13h, Contact Tel +33 (0) 1 72 63 68 65, Contact Email : stdominique@lerepairedebacchus.com
The official Le Repaire de Bacchus : https://lerepairedebacchus.com/nos-caves/
There you go folks, another wine episode of my belle France! The wines news from France that is, superbe, sublime, wonderful, gorgeous, enjoy without moderation but accompanying a meal, family table just perfect. See you in the vineyards of my belle France, Again, hope you enjoy the post as I,
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 