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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.

HALL OF FAME

CHAMPAGNE ELLNER SAS

EPERNAY

Founded at the beginning of 1900, The House Charles Ellner, is managed today by the 3rd generation whereas the 4th has already taken a very active part in it since several years. The family moved forward very fast and developed the company in a significant way, but was always very concerned about preserving the same family identity and know-how. For memory, at the beginning of the last century, Charles Emile Ellner founded the house. He was then assisted by is only son Pierre, with whom the adventure started. Pierre transmitted to his sons his passion for the vineyard and for wine. Michel more involved in the vineyard was very often standing by his father’s side building together today’s properties. He was followed by his two sons, Arnaud, the actual cellars master and Frederic, director of the vineyard. Jean-Pierre is now the President of the company. The vineyard covers a total surface of 50 hectares spread over 15 different locations providing us with a wide variety of grapes. The diversity, the richness; the smoothness of our cuvees, attest of our will to bring our Champagne to the top of the quality scale. The fidelity and confidence our customers grant us with , testify of the steadiness and the constancy of our champagne through out the years. Always in search of new opportunities, our company succeeded in developing its export markets representing today nearly 60 % of its sales. Here is a great Champagne Séduction Millésime 2006, 75 % Chardonnay, partially aged in old oak barrels, 25 % Pinot noir, dosage 6 g/l, where find themselves flowers and dried fruits, balanced well and harmonious, dense, of powerful mouth, in the subtle notes of citrus fruits, narcissus and toast, a distinguished, ample champagne, to plan on a sea bream in chanterelles or quenelles of poultry in spinach, in particular. The 2005, 69 % Chardonnay (Avize, Tauxières and Epernay) partially aged in old oak barrels, 31 % Pinot noir (Rilly, Epernay and Sermiers), dosage 6 g/l, very specific in this powerful vintage wine, a vintage of fresh and fruity exception, with a light foam and perfumed, delicate aromas with nuances of pink, broom and almond. Excellent brut Premier Cru (always majority Chardonnay), which develops a nose of fresh hazelnut, good mouth, involving distinction and curvature, a vinous champagne but at the same time everything in delicacy, a rich and perfumed, in the notes of soaked fruits. There is also this Champagne Prestige Millésime 2006 (72 % of Chardonnay selected on the vineyards of Moussy, Tauxières and Avize, 28 % of Pinot noir resulting from Epernay and from Moussy, dosage 8 g/l). No malolactic fermentation. A great wine of pale golden robe, in the green reflections, the vintage offering a fine and persistent bubble, which presents a beautiful complexity mixing the notes of white flowers and lemon to finish on subtle flavors of sweet almond due to a long ageing in cellar. A nervous champagne, which reveals one finale delicate smooth and silky. The 2005, 65 % Chardonnay (Avize, Chouilly and Tauxières), 35 % Pinot noir (Rilly-la-Montagne, Sermiers and Epernay), dosage 8 g/l, very attractive, in the aromas of pear and grilled hazelnut, light yellow robe in the golden reflections, a powerful and elegant wine at the same time, everything mouth, everything in finale.

DOMAINE ALARY

AOC CAIRANNE

A family winegrowing of wire father since 1692, 25 ha, composed of stony grounds argilo-limestones. It is today Denis Alary who directs this winegrowing to prunes human, whose vine grower spirit was always the base. The property is entirely on the commune of Cairanne, with 3 different soils which allow a subtlety in the assemblies according to the vintages. The wines are matured in the respect of the soil and the environment with cultivation methods very appropriate to nature, in conversion bio since 2009. Manual, tri grape harvest of the vintage to the vine and the cellar, de-stemming, punching of the cap. Maturing a part out of tanks and a part in the oval and puncheon… Excellent Cairanne Brunotte 2010, with the nose of morello cherry and ripe blackcurrants, dense and complex, is very scented stops some with a peppered final. Cairanne rouge La Font d’Estevenas 2009, with the aromas of violet and liquorice, with tannins present and silky at the same time, a firm and generous wine. The Cairanne blanc La Font d’Estevenas 2009, which has this complex nose where prevail the currants and the humus, a wine firm and fruity like their CDR-Villages La Jean de Verde 2009, fullbodied, of beautiful steady robe, with the notes of undergrowth and strawberry, combining structure and suppleness, of excellent evolution as proves it this 2007, of a beautiful garnet-red crimson, rich and scented color, with the discrete connotations of macerated fruits and humus, harmonious. There is also the CDR blanc sec La Chèvre d’Or 2011, of fresh and supple mouth at the same time, with the notes of honeysuckle. Taste the l’IGP Principauté d’Orange blanc sec La Grange Daniel Roussane 2011, of delicate robe, which feels the pink, combining nervousness and roundness.

ROBERT AMPEAU

MEURSAULT

The Ampeau family have been skilled wine-growers for generations - for them, wine is a question of passion and an art. They sell only matured wines which are ready to be savoured - a sign of the respect they feel for their produce. Enchanting red wines - smooth, well-balanced, full-bodied in the mouth with lovely mellow tannins and lots of character and charm. Excellent length and aromatic complexity with notes of red fruit, spices and humus. The whites are aged to perfection with their excellent balance and strong typical character, intense, classical and very elegant. Enjoy their Meursault Perrières 82 which has aged nicely - intense, strong on character, very classical, a delicious wine which is ideal served with white meat in a cream sauce. Also the Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes 79, very rich in the mouth with a lovely blend of structure and finesse, powerful on the palate, ageing delightfully. Also try the Pommard 79, with its bouquet of ripe fruit and humus, rich and complex, excellent in the mouth with a deep colour and well-balanced tannins. Or taste the Auxey-Duresses 88, smooth and dense in the mouth, the Volnay-Santenots 76, with subtle hints of humus, blackberry and spices, very aromatic, tasty in the mouth, fine and powerful all at the same time, matured to perfection.

CHATEAU DE BEAUFORT - J. COUDRAY-BIZOT

ECHEZEAUX

French and international clients of Château de Beaufort use the same terms to describe the wines of J. Coudray-Bizot: elegance and finesse. The Domaine is housed in the prestigious mansion of David de Beaufort, a traditional 17th century building that benefits from cellars located under the ramparts of Beaune. Jean-Jacques Coudray-Bizot maintains the traditions of the fine high-class wines of Burgundy, by limiting inputs and by taking the best possible care of the historic vines and prestigious appellations of the Domaine: Vosne-Romanée premier cru La Croix Rameau, within the walls of Romanée Saint-Vivant (the old vineyard of Neufs Journaux); Echezeaux grand cru en Orveaux, just above Château du Clos Vougeot; Gevrey-Chambertin premier cru Les Cazetiers and Champeaux; Nuits-Saint-Georges au Bas de Combe and Puligny-Montrachet premier cru Les Combettes.

CHAMPAGNE LEGRAS ET HAAS

CHOUILLY

Our house was founded in 1991 per François Legras-Haas. The vineyard belongs to the family: 15 ha with Chouilly (Chardonnay Grand Cru), 10 ha with Vitry (Chardonnay), 6 ha with Les Riceys (Pinot noir). Rémi and Olivier took in hand the family company and are helped now by Jérôme. The house continues a reasonable progression both in France and with export. The Grand Cru Chouilly offers a potential of guard while presenting when it is young, a fresh and light character, appreciated with aperitif. The Chardonnays 2002 are long, suaves and very aromatic with floral or fruity aspects which prevail. The potential degree with the vintage was of 10.5% vol., more matured these 10 last years. The wines are structured and powerful. Superb Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de blancs Millésimé 2006, a very beautiful Champagne of beautiful yellow color scented with amber, with these typical green reflections, with the fresh hazel nut notes, of a nice smoothness, with this fullness suitable for the vintage, where in mouth the apple, the heather and the lily intermingle. The 2005, with the nuances of honey and apricot, very delicate, of unctuous mouth, with the intense robe, a firm wine, very out of fruits, associating roundness and structure, of delicate foam, creamy and persistent. Always taste the 2002, gold medal with world competition, a harmonious vintage, of a good roundness, with a complex, very aromatic bouquet with the nuances of white flowers and lemon grass, nice abundant, well proportioned foam. Brut Tradition, with the nuances of ripe small fruits, slightly with the honey taste. The Champagne cuvée Exigence (requirement in the choice of type of vines and their assembly, Chouilly Grand cru of Chardonnay and Aÿ Grand Cru of Pinot noir), with the floral and mineral nose, is of a large smoothness with finally a very pleasant acidulated side, a full and generous vintage where one finds in mouth of the nuances of ripe citrus fruits and brioche bread, of very elegant foam. In the line, the Champagne cuvée Extra-brut, a Blanc de blancs resulting from a compartmental selection of the best localities, with a proportioning close to brut nature, with the perfume of fresh almond and citrus fruits (lemon-yellow, apple rennet), is very fresh, intense and round, with the subtle and persistent nose, a wine which associates fullness and distinction, a very beautiful Champagne, very harmonious, really very charmer.