Our buyers have been busy adding more than 100 new wines from the Old and New World to our portfolio this spring.
From Champagne and Savoie, to South Africa and Argentina, below is a selection of some of our favourite newcomers…
R. Pouillon & Fils
Champagne | France
A grower from the very beginning, Fabrice Pouillon continues to build on what his father and grandfather created, crafting truly unique and artisanal Champagnes.
Owning 6.5ha of land across the Grand Cru of Ay, and throughout the Vallee de la Marne and Montagne de Reims, Fabrice creates expressive and terroir-driven wines that are vibrantly aromatic. Dedicated to the vitality, energy and health of his vineyards, Fabrice began the conversion to organics in 2003 and today also incorporates biodynamic principles.
The wines age in a combination of older oak demi-muids and barriques, where everything undergoes complete malolactic fermentation. Reserve wines are aged for up to 18 months in wooden tanks and there is a ‘solera’ system in operation, with wines dating back to the late 1990s.
Lacourte Godbillon
Champagne | France
Now in their third generation, family-owned Lacourte Godbillon are a top-quality and well-known Grower Champagne from the Montagne de Reims. For current owner and winemaker Geraldine Lacourte and husband Richard Desvignes, their vision is simple: the wine must be an expression of its terroir.
They are true growers in every sense, owning all 8ha of their vineyards and working with a small team of only five people (except during harvest, of course). Lacourte Godbillon are in their second year of converting to organic production and have started to implement biodynamic practices.
95% of their grapes are grown on the Premier Cru terroir of Ecueil, on the extreme western flanks of the Montagne de Reims, an area well known for incredible Pinot Noir production. This varietal constitutes the majority of plantings across their 50 different plots.
Read more about our new Champagne producers.
Alphonse Mellot
Sancerre, Loire Valley | France
Alphonse Mellot is a beacon of quality in Sancerre, crafting excellent whites, reds and rosé in a very hands on, biodynamic approach.
Alastair Pyatt, Bibendum buyer for France, says, “Alphonse Mellot owns a lot of individual vineyard plots, with La Moussiere the most remarkable, from where they produce stand-out Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.” Located in the upper Sancerre, La Moussiere is a historic and beautiful site: a 30ha, south facing, single vineyard, with rolling slopes and deep, limestone-rich kimmeridgian soil.
Domaine Marc Kreydenweiss
Alsace and Costieres de Nimes, Rhone | France
In the 44 years of running his eponymous domaine in Alsace Marc Kreydenweiss has evolved his viticultural practices, and since 1989 they have been operating completely biodynamically. Their vineyards cover three of the Grand Crus of Andlau, where the vines benefit from a continental climate and soils with a unique mosaic of terroirs. In 1999, Marc expanded their operations to the Rhone’s Costieres de Nimes, where they produce Carignan, Syrah and Grenache.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Antoine Kreydenweiss took over the vineyard management in 2007
Jean Perrier et Fils
Savoie | France
Savoie may be one of France’s smaller and lesser-known regions, but it is big on personality. Bibendum buyer for France, Alastair Pyatt, says, “Jean Perrier is one of the leading producers in Savoie and our first addition from this Alpine region. It’s a small, family-owned producer growing mostly indigenous grapes in various crus throughout the region.”
With a long family history, the Perrier family started growing grapes and bought a cellar in Savoie in 1853. Now operated by brothers Philippe, Christophe and Gilles, the vineyards are farmed organically, producing electrifying and fresh whites and reds.
La Dama
Valpolicella, Veneto | Italy
“La Dama is an exciting find for us and a relatively new producer. Their vineyards are situated in the best commune of Valpolicella, where they make beautifully-modern and pure styles of Valpolicella Classico and Amarone Classico from their small 10ha estate,” says Matt Smith, Bibendum buyer for Italy.
Owned and operated by Gabriele Dalcanale and his wife, ‘la dama’ (the lady) Miriam, their vine growing and winemaking approach is about doing things as natural as possible, and from the 2015 vintage, all La Dama wines will be certified organic.
Castello di Ama
Chianti Classico, Tuscany | Italy
A top Tuscan producer, Castello di Ama is one of our most exciting additions this year. Family owned, they operate 80ha dominated by classic red varietals. Their vineyards surround the medieval hamlet of Ama, near the village of Lecchi in Chianti.
Matt says, “We are thrilled to have this prestigious Tuscan producer join our Italian portfolio. Their reputation precedes them, having formerly been voted Winemaker of the Year and Winery of the Year in Italy’s most respected wine guide, the Gambero Rosso.”
Strydom Vineyards
Stellenbosch | South Africa
Rianie and Louis Strydom are a real powerhouse couple in the South African wine scene. Winemakers at well-known Stellenbosch producers and members of the esteemed Cape Winemakers Guild, they set up their own winery as a side project in 2012.
With Louis looking after the vineyards, Rianie is the real driving force and head winemaker, crafting unique and artisanal wines. Producing very small volumes, the wines are created from specially selected parts of vineyards around Stellenbosch. Most of these vines are planted on the Helderberg slopes, with a focus on Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
Benguela Cove
Walker Bay | South Africa
A magical part of South Africa, Benguela Cove is located in the cool-climate region of Walker Bay in Hermanus. With 70ha of vines, this is South Africa’s longest stretch of ocean-facing vineyards, while also overlooking the majestic Palmiet Mountains and Bot River Lagoon. The south-easterly sea breeze is chilled by the Benguela Current flowing up from Antarctica, cooling the grapes during the sunny growing season.
With a focus on Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Syrah, revered winemaker Johann Fourie crafts wines of character and individuality, from both environmentally- and ethically-accredited vineyards.
Read more about our new South African producers.
Rieslingfreak
Eden Valley and Clare Valley | Australia
Young gun winemaker and Riesling ‘freak’ John Hughes has taken the industry by storm with his on-point and diverse range of Rieslings. His first vintage was in 2009 with a single-vineyard Clare Valley Riesling, after which John expanded to the Eden Valley.
John’s wines are seriously hot property and only available on allocation. He cleaned up on the Australian wine show circuit last year and won the coveted Winemaker’s Choice trophy at the Young Gun of Wine Awards.
La Posta
Mendoza | Argentina
A new collaboration with wine pioneer Laura Catena, La Posta is about celebrating these incredible small growers across Mendoza. ‘La Posta’ is the tavern where growers gather to share a glass of wine and stories about the harvest before their daily siesta, and the single vineyard wines – crafted by winemaker Estela Perinetti – are all named after the individual growers: Armando, Glorieta and Pizzella.
These wines are all from sub-regions of Mendoza – Guaymallen, Tupungato and La Consulta – and are not just Malbec dominated, but include a 100% Pinot Noir and Bonarda wine.
