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Les Vins du Siècle est un grand site fédérateur, bilingue et mondial. Dans toute la France, « triés sur le volet », les meilleurs producteurs (la très grande majorité ayant l’exclusivité de leur appellation) sont retenus pour la typicité des vins, leur rapport qualité-prix-plaisir, l'expression de leur terroir et leur passion de vignerons.

Pas de vins à la mode, surcôtés ou de "jus de bois" dans Les Vins du Siècle. La typicité d’un vin, ce n’est rien d’autre que l’association d’un sol, d’un micro-climat, d’une plante et d’un homme. On ne peut aimer un vin qu’en appréciant celui qui le fait. Derrière une étiquette, il y a un viticulteur (ou une viticultrice) et c’est fondamental de ne pas les dissocier. Bien sûr, les sols ont une influence considérable et, dans chaque territoire, dans chaque commune, le vigneron fait la différence avec son voisin.

Il ne s’agit donc pas seulement de faire du bon vin, ce que tout le monde peut faire, mais surtout d’élever de vrais vins racés, reconnaissables entre mille, qui sentent ce “fumé” bourguignon, déploient ce “velours” libournais, ces senteurs alsaciennes, cette “chair” en Médoc ou à Châteauneuf, cette “minéralité” à Pouilly ou à Meursault, cette fraîcheur en Champagne comme dans nos grands liquoreux.

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HALL OF FAME

CHATEAU REDORTIER

BEAUMES-DE-VENISE

Château Redortier, with 35 hectares of vines in virtually one single stretch, is particularly well placed, standing opposite the prestigious Dentelles de Montmirail. The estate is in the Côtes du Rhône Villages, Beaumes de Venise and Gigondas appellations all at the same time. The land is exceptional: the vines are planted at an altitude of 400m on south-facing hillsides which benefit from clay-limestone soils and a very dry summer season. The estate has kept its family character, with Etienne de Menthon working alongside his wife and their daughter Sabine. Château Redortier used to be a very important fortified castle which defended the principality of Orange. In 1956 Etienne de Menthon, an agronomist, restored the estate to its former condition. To respect the environment and to favour the natural character of the wine, the treatment of vine diseases is subject to reasonable methods. Yields are intentionally controlled at 30 to 35 hl/ha, resulting in quality wines. Harvesting is performed by hand so as not to alter the vines and bunches of grapes, enabling strict sorting procedures. Vinification is traditional, with the white obtained by pressing and the rosé by bleeding. For the reds, vatting varies from 8 to 10 days for the Beaumes de Venise and 15 days for the Gigondas. Pressing is light for all the wines and temperatures are controlled throughout fermentation. The reds spend two winters in vats before being bottled and the wines undergo very little physical treatment, in order to conserve all their aromas and their intrinsic quality. The wines do not mature in wood barrels, as the quality of the soils and vines is sufficient to give them a naturally woody character.

A winegrowing family for many generations, the Fleurys own vineyards on the chalky-clay slopes of the Côte des Bar in the southern part of the Champagne region, at the spot where the first tributaries flow into the Seine. 1895 – 1995 : The Centenary jubilee of the vineyard Fleury Emile Fleury was the first in the area after phylloxera to replant his vineyards with grafted Pinot vines. 1929 – 2009 : 80 years of the house of Fleury In 1929, his son Robert became one of the first récoltants-manipulants in the Aube. 1989 – 2009 : 20 years biodynamics Robert’s son Jean-Pierre, the current owner, took over the family estate, which at that time was managed conventionally.In 1970, he heard about the biodynamic system, and began to experiment with an ecological approach, mechanical weeding, organic manure etc. By 1989, he began gradually converting to biodynamic, he was the first biodynamic Champagne producer. Recognition followed quickly, and he contnues to receive international awards every year : in 2013 his Fleur de l’Europe got a gold medal at Amphore, as well as Boléro 2004 at MundusVini and AWC Vienna. The Guide Hachette des vins 2014 gave its “coup de Cœur” to the first sulphur-free cuvee created by Jean-Sébastien Fleury : Sonate N° 9. 2009 : The fourth generation is now working beside Jean-Pierre : Jean Sebastien initiated the maturing of all wines in huge 6.000 L oak barrels before bottling and introduced again the ploughing of some parcels by a horse. Morgane opened in Paris in March this year “Ma Cave Fleury”, a champagne and organic wines’shop.

DOMAINE DE MOULIN-POUZY

MONBAZILLAC

In the heart of the Bergerac vineyards, the Domaine de Moulin-Pouzy and its sunny hills extend on 50 hectares. This family property has been created in 1898. At its head, Fabien Castaing represents the 5th generation of wine grower. Helped by a team of 5 people, he works out his wines with passion thanks to a generous nature. A cherished vineyard, a reasoned vine growing, oenological follow-ups of quality, contribute to the making of beautiful wines. Made with precision, these creations are a tribute to nature. Fabien Castaing invites you to discover his world he wishes, contemporary and close to his roots. A beautiful Monbazillac La Cuvée 2010, resulting from a selection of the best lands, 85% of Sémillon and 15% of Muscadelle, hand harvest, fermentation and maturing new barrels of American oak during 12 to 15 months, a beautiful balance, sweet and sharp at the same time, fleshy, with the persistent candied fruits scents and of a very nice final. The Bergerac dry Optimum 2011, made with Sauvignon, has a concentrated nose where the lily and the fresh fruits are really present. It has an intense aromatic persistence and a beautiful length. The Bergerac rouge La Cuvée 2009 has been made from a election of the best grapes with a majority of Merlot. Ageing in barrels of French and American oak during 12 to 15 months, a very light filtration. A wine with a beautiful deep red colour, with complex notes of liquorice and strawberry, combining tannic matter and smoothness. A nice Bergerac Rosé Classique 2012, with a melted mouth : a fresh wine.

CHAMPAGNE RENE RUTAT

VERTUS

The work of the vine and wine is a family tradition in the Rutat household: the great grandparents who were coopers and the grandparents who grew vines, passed their passion for wine down to René, the father of the present owner. Champagne René Rutat was thus born at the beginning of the 1960's as a "Propriétaire-Récoltant". It was in 1985 that Michel took over the family company with his wife, Evelyne. After several generations of vine-growers in Vertus, René Rutat Champagne is today widely recognised among the professionals of the wine sector and often wins awards for its quality. There is their Champagne Millésimé Premier Cru Blanc de blancs 2002, of a great freshness (it is this beautiful vintage which wants that), of pale robe but, delicate and persistent bubbles, with the fresh nose and of a beautiful complexity to the citrus fruits notes and white fruits, with much of powerfull and character to the palate, of a final to soft savors. Excellent Premier Cru Blanc de blancs, of color gold to the green reflections and the delicate aromas of white fruits and flowers, a Champagne which associates freshness and structure, all in mouth. Their Extra Dry is always very pleasant, marrying aromatic structure and persistence in mouth, with nuances of lemon and nut. Tasty demi-sec, of a great aromatic richness, with the robe intense, suave, is to be discovered on a roast poultry as on the desserts. The brut rosé one is all stops some, at the same time supple and fond of delicacies, with this persistent spiced key, a very nice wine, which appreciates all during the meal. The brut Grande Réserve Blanc de blancs is very well-balanced, with the grapefruit and lemon aromas mingled with acidulated apple and apricot notes, a frank vintage, very delicate.

DOMAINE DE FONTLADE

COTEAUX VAROIS EN PROVENCE

In our wine making we aim at being both rigorous and passionate: rigorous in terms of cultivating our vines and making our wines and passionate for our land and our products. Our vineyard has been owned by the Baronne de Montremy for over 50 years and lies on very pebbly terraces on a mix of chalk and clay in the centre of Provence. The past three years have seen very hot summers and cold winters and have enabled us to produce powerful but elegant and aromatic wines. The 2008 vintage will be less powerful but will retain its elegance. Our reds are hearty and generous; our rosés are structured but elegant with a pleasant red fruit aroma while our whites are fresh and floral with a pleasant crispness. In 2008, elegance more than the powerfull will characterize our wines. Remarkable Coteaux-Varois-en-Provence rouge cuvée de l’Hermite Maunier Vieilles Vignes 2007 (60% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 10% Cabernet), matured 8 months out of barrels of oak, with the aromas of cooked fruits and spices, rich and coloured, of beautiful garnet-red color, dense and powerful with the nose as in mouth, of excellent guard. Complex, the cuvée Saint Qvinis rouge 2006, is of deep robe, with the nose of blackberry and of smoked, with tannins present, a wine of a beautiful harmony, which continues its evolution. The cuvée Saint-Qvinis rosé 2011 is of beautiful color, well fruity with nose as in mouth, which deserves kitchen spiced, always very attractive like Côtes-de-Provence rosé Aurélia Prima 2010, assembly of Syrah and Grenache (50/50) which macerated one night before being bled and vinified cold (below 17°), which develops nuances of flowers and spices, mixing richness and suppleness, of fruity mouth.