BACKGROUND
France was a land without vines or wine until the arrival of the Greeks and romans. Monks maintained vineyards and conserved wine making knowledge and skills. France’s centuries-long reign as the top wine-producing country came to a sharp halt when cultivation was devastated by the spread of phylloxera across Europe from 1870 to 1908. After this crippling plague, in 1930 the French government introduced the wine classification system to minimise the threat posed by competing wine countries. Nowadays nearly every region of France produces wine and Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Loire valley are the top areas.
Burgundy Côte de Nuits Red - GRAND CRU
DOMAINE LEROY - Musigny
Established in 1868 by François Leroy owning Mersault Pommard, Chambertin, Musigny, Clos Vougeot, and Richebourg vineyards. In 1912 Henri Leroy joined the family business and in 1942 after acquiring 50% of the shares from his friend Henri, became co-owner of Domaine Romanée Conti, still today held by the Leroy family. Musigny from Domaine Leroy is one of the rarest wines under the radar for many collectors.
Burgundy Côte de Nuits Red - GRAND CRU
Romanée Conti
Medium garnet color, bricked throughout, much sediment. Rich and sweet nose of baked pie of stone fruits and berries, with an enormous mix of mints, tobacco pouch, damp redwood, beef broth in there. On arrival, low tannin and delicately low acidity.
Domaine de La Romanée-Conti
Montrachet Grand Cru
In 1200 the vineyard was operated by the Abbey of Saint Vivant in Vosne, it is believed that the vines were cultivated by the Romans giving them their name Romanée. In 1700 the Prince of Conti bought the vineyard giving his name Romanée Conti and not sharing a single bottle with anybody. The Duvault-Blochet family in 1800 started their journey, bringing to the market one of the most sought wines in the world. Since 1942 the Domaine has been co-owned by the de Villaine and Leroy/Roch families. The high demand for specific vintages and with the Domaine producing only 280 cases per year, makes Montrachet the most esteemed Chardonnay on the market.
Bordeaux Pomerol - Grand Vin
Château Pétrus - POMEROL
Bordeaux, France, Chateau Petrus owned by the Moueix family with 28 acres of vine Petrus produces 100% Merlot. In 1964 Jean-Pierre Moueix hired Jean-Claude Berrouet, oenologist and winemaker producing 45 stanning vintages. The vines are planted at the highest hill of Pomerol, producing only 30,000 bottles per year every wine enthusiast loves to have his Petrus case.