The Winemakers' Collection

Winemakers' Collection - Denis Dubourdieu

Following our recent offer of the 2010 Winemakers' Collection we are pleased to offer the previous vintages from this intriguing and unique concept. Each year a world-renowned winemaker is invited to take control of a single vineyard parcel at Chateau d'Arsac, one of the oldest Chateau in the Medoc.  

 

The winemakers are allowed complete control from vineyard to vinification, blending and maturing the wine according to their own methods and principles.  A truly brilliant opportunity to see what some of Bordeaux's top winemakers can do, at a fraction of the price you would normally expect to pay for their work.  There have now been 5 vintages of the Winemakers' Collection - 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010*.  

* no 2009 was made due to a dispute with the winemaker  

 

"It will be fascinating to compare these offerings as they evolve, but there is no doubt that some of the world's greatest winemaking talents are being lined up to continue this creative concept"  Robert Parker



2008 (Cuvée No.4) - Stéphane Derenoncourt - £190 per case of 12 IB

Derenoncourt's first experience in the vineyard was helping to pick the legendary 1982 vintage in Fronsac before gradually working his way up.  He first came to the attention of many for the 1993 vintage at Pavie Macquin, which in a difficult year was a resounding success.  Described by many as the next Michel Rolland, he now has clients all over the world including la Mondotte, Smith Haut Lafitte, Domaine de Chevalier and Beausejour Duffau and his expertise is highly sought after.  In his own words "I like to define the potential of a terroir and try to adapt the winemaking to express that to the maximum".


89-92 Points
 "Stephane Derenoncourt's Cuvee Numero 4 is a more forward style (even more so than the 2005 and 2006) with velvety tannins, and sweet black currant and black cherry fruit intermixed with subtle smoke and licorice. This well-made, medium to full-bodied effort should drink gorgeously well young, yet evolve for 10-15 years."  Robert Parker, April 2009, Drink 2009-2024


2007 (Cuvée No.3) - Andrea Franchetti - £190 per case of 12 IB   

Andrea Franchetti is one of Italy's visionaries. Whilst working as a wine distributor in New York, Franchetti made many friends in the industry including Jean Luc Thunevin of Chateau Valandraud and Peter Sisseck of Domino de Pingus in Ribera del Duero. This meant that when Franchetti set out to make his own wine, he had plenty of good advice. Taking Bordeaux as his inspiration, he planted Bordeaux varietals in a sleepy undiscovered corner of southern Tuscany, at crazy altitudes. Now, year after year his Tenuta di Trinoro wines receive tremendous praise and fabulous scores.

 

"Andrea Franchetti is one of Italy's most fascinating wine personalities. Year after year Franchetti puts compelling juice in the bottle. His wines from Trinoro, in one of the most remote corners of Tuscany, remain some of my favorite reds on the planet"  Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate 

   

16.5 Points "87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot. Gentle and sweet. Acidity a bit obvious. But one of the gentler Médoc 2007s. Easy. Frank. Clean. With some energy. Drink soon! Very brave to go so light... Very different from the mainstream and, I'm told, achieved by dint of very strict pruning, but the bottle is far too heavy."  Jancis Robinson, August 2011, Drink 2009-2013



2006 (Cuvée No.2) - Denis Dubourdieu - £210 per case of 12 IB   

Dubourdieu is considered one of the top specialists in the winemaking process and since 1987 he has been Oenology Professor at the University of Bordeaux. The work of Dubourdieu and his team has contributed greatly to increasing the knowledge of red wine aromas. Dubourdieu tends to his own family vineyards at Doisy Daëne and is a consultant to numerous others including Haut Bailly and YquemHis own style is distinctive with a strong fruit quality, full and deep tannins and a great purity of aromas and freshness.

    

91 Points "A classic Bordeaux, it exhibits a deep ruby/purple hue along with sweet aromas of black currants infused with tobacco leaf, loamy, earthy undertones, spice box, and cedar. With sweet, noble tannin, medium to full body, and outstanding concentration, but less sucrosite than the Cuvee Numero 1 (the vintage's raw materials do not provide the heft and weight of the 2005), it should drink well for 10-15 years"  Robert Parker, February 2009, Drink 2009-2024



2005 (Cuvée No.1) - Michel Rolland - £315 per case of 12 IB

2005 was a great vintage and Michel Rolland is possibly Bordeaux's most famous and influential oenologist having worked with some of Bordeaux's most distinguished Chateaux including Ausone, Clinet, Lascombes and Pontet Canet. Limited quantities so only available when ordering with two other vintages of the Winemakers' Collection.

 

93 Points "Rolland had the good fortune to benefit from an excellent vintage, and the result is a 5,000-case lot of sensational wine"  Robert Parker, April 2008, Drink 2008-2028



2010 (Cuvée No.5) - Eric Boissenot - £180 per case of 12 IB

Boissenot is less known outside the Medoc but his list of clients speaks for itself, including Lafite, Margaux, Latour, Mouton Rothschild, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Leoville-las-Cases, both Pichon Longueville and Pichon Comtesse, Leoville Barton, Gruaud Larose, and Cos d'EstournelWe have a very limited quantity of the 2010 by renowned oenologist Eric Boissenot which we can offer en primeur and which will be available under bond in Spring 2013.

 

17 Points "Hugely seductive palate entry ... Really interesting and well balanced. Still with lots of zest and future" Jancis Robinson, Drink 2015-2024



Wines offered lying In Bond.  If required duty paid, duty of £21.71 per 12 bottles will be charged & VAT at 20%.  Delivery if required will be charged at cost.  Subject to remaining unsold.  E&OE.

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