Press
Antonio Galloni in ROBERT PARKER WINE ADVOCATE NOV 2011 on the following Champagnes from Vine Trail
2005 Agrapart & Fils Extra Brut BdeB Grand Cru l'Avizoise (96 points)
2005 Agrapart & Fils Extra Brut BdeB Grand Cru Venus (96 points)
2008 Domaine Vouette et Sorbee Blanc d'Argile (95 points)
2008 Domaine Vouette et Sorbee Fidele (94 points)
2005 Agrapart & Fils Extra Brut BdeB Grand Cru Mineral (94 points)
NV Ulysse Collin Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs (94 points)
NV La Closerie (Jerome Prevost) Extra Brut Les Beguines (94 points)
NV La Closerie (Jerome Prevost) Extra Brut Fac simile (93 points)
2008 Domaine Vouette et Sorbee Saignee de Sorbee (93 points)
NV Cedric Bouchard Inflorescence Blanc de Noirs Val Vilaine (93+ points)
NV Larmandier-Bernier Brut Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Nature Terre de Vertus (93 points)
NV Larmandier-Bernier Extra Brut BdeB Premier Cru (92 points)
NV Agrapart & Fils Brut BdeB Grand Cru Terroirs (92 points)
2004 Chartogne-Taillet Brut (92 points)
NV Agrapart & Fils Brut Blanc de Blancs les 7 Crus (91 points)
2005 Lilbert-Fils Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Cramant (91 points)
NV Chartogne-Taillet Brut Cuvee St Anne (90 points)
Vine Trail - a wealth of good value
25 Nov 2011 by Julia Harding MW (www.jancisrobinson.com)
I cannot recall writing the initials GV (good value) quite as often as I did at a recent tasting of wines from Vine Trail, a specialist importer of small-domaine French wines based in Bristol, south-west England. Almost exactly a year ago, Jancis wrote a glowing report of Vine Trail's approach to sourcing distinctive, hand-picked wines. Nothing has changed in that respect but it was encouraging to see several new wines in the range as well as a handful of older vintages - the Bandol and the Cahors, for example - for current drinking. For me this selection defines good value: the wines are not necessarily inexpensive but they are overwhelmingly worth every penny (although note that you do have to buy at least 12 assorted bottles, delivery is free only in the Bristol area and, partly because most of their business is with restaurants rather than individuals, they don't accept credit cards). This was a tasting of wines that I would have been happy to go home and drink.
Vine Trail's website is also a model of clarity, packed with useful information on each wine and producer - though they thoughtfully restrict the amount of detail you see initially, allowing the detail-hungry to click for more. Website prices exclude VAT.
See also Tamlyn's enthusiastic notes on Vine Trail's exciting range of grower champagnes (A Sparkling Line-Up) below
CHAMPAGNES
read more on the following champagnes......
Jacques Lassaigne, Les Vignes de Montgueux BdeB Brut NV Champagne 17
Georges Laval, Cumières Premier Cru Brut Nature NV Champagne 17
WHITES
read more on the following whites .......
Dirler-Cadé, Kessler Pinot Gris 2007 Alsace Grand Cru 17.5
Bertrand et Lise Jousset, Singulier 2007 Montlouis-sur-Loire 17
Dirler-Cadé, Riesling Spiegel 2007 Alsace Grand Cru 17
Dom Marc Colin, Fontenotte 2008 St-Aubin 17
Caroline Morey, Les Combes Premier Cru 2008 St-Aubin 17
Caroline Morey, La Comme Premier Cru 2008 Santenay 17
Christophe Blanc, Les Vallins 2010 Condrieu 17
Gérard Boulay, 2010 Sancerre 16.5
François Pinon, 2009 Vouvray Sec 16.5
Ch Haut-Nouchet, 2008 Pessac-Léognan 16.5
Gilles Berlioz, 2009 Roussette de Savoie 16
Montesquiou, Cuvade Préciouse 2010 Jurançon 16
Pattes Loup, Vent d'Ange 2009 Chablis 16
Bernard Gripa, 2009 St-Joseph 16
REDS
read more on the following reds.......
Gourt de Mautens 2007 Rasteau 17.5
Château Ste-Anne 2005 Bandol 17
Roucas Toumba, Les Restanques de Cabassole 2008 Vacqueyras 16.5++
La Bérangeraie, Cuvée Maurin 2006 Cahors 16.5+
Labranche-Laffont, Vieilles Vignes 2008 Madiran 16.5+
Gilles Berlioz, La Deuse Mondeuse 2010 Savoie 16.5
Daniel Bouland, Cuvée Mélanie 2009 Côte de Brouilly 16.5
Dom Thierry Mortet, Vigne Belle 2007 Gevrey-Chambertin 16.5
Coston 2010 IGP St-Guilhem-le-Désert 16.5
David & Benjamin Duclaux, La Germine 2006 Côte Rôtie 16.5
Ch Pont St-Martin 2007 Pessac-Léognan 16.5
Le Conte des Floris, Basaltique 2007 Coteaux du Languedoc 16.5
L'Oratoire St-Martin, Réserve des Seigneurs 2007 CdR-Villages, Cairanne 16.5
Gérard Marula, Le Haut Midi 2009 Touraine 16
Champ Morel 2009 Crozes-Hermitage 16
Ch Les Gravières 2006 St-Émilion 16
SWEET
read more on Jurançon Clos Thou.........
The bubbly types by Jancis Robinson
FINANCIAL TIMES MAGAZINE 26/27 NOVEMBER 2011
Chartogne-Taillet NV
Agrapart, Les 7 Crus NV
click here to read more.........
Don't miss Jancis's 4-part series on top 100 festive wines on what to drink over the festive season, updated on www.ft.com/robinson . See 3/4th December for the best reds
Some stray sparklers
Amongst the champagnes that Jancis posted on her website www.jancisrobinson.com on 24th November is:
Larmandier-Bernier, Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Premier Cru NV (18) Drink 2011-2015
"Very delicate and tense. Lacy textured - such a pleasure to drink, and not excessively dry at all. Balanced on a tightrope admittedly but no sign of any wobble. Lovely. 12.5%." £24.96
In the September Imbibe Champagne Special 2011, Jane Parkinson asks 4 top sommeliers which grower champagnes are their favourites now and why. 3 of them chose Vine Trail wines:
Edouard Oger, Head Sommelier at Gidleigh Park in Devon on Larmandier-Bernier
Andrea Briccarello, Head Sommelier at Galvin La Chapelle, London on Larmandier-Bernier, Benoit Lahaye and Chartogne-Taillet
click here to read more.......
Laure Patry, Head Sommelier at Pollen Street Social, London on Jérôme Prévost
click here to read more........
Domaine Pattes Loup Thomas Pico Chablis - Robert Parker The Wine Advocate August 2011 reviewed by Antonio Galloni
"these are some of the most ground-breaking, intensely captivating wines being made in Chablis today. Readers should do whatever they can to taste them. Thomas Pico is just a bit past his 30th birthday, but he is already on his way to becoming a superstar."
2009 Domaine Pattes Loup Thomas Pico Chablis (no 136 on our list rated 92)
2009 Domaine Pattes Loup Thomas Pico Chablis Beauregard (no 137 on our list rated 93)
2009 Domaine Pattes Loup Thomas Pico Chablis Montmains (no. 138 on our list rated 95+)
See the latest scores from David Schildknecht for Daniel Bouland wines in Robert Parker The Wine Advocate August 2011
2010 Daniel Bouland Chiroubles (no 177 on our list, rated 90)
2010 Daniel Bouland Côte de Brouilly Cuvée Melanie (no 178 on our list, rated 91)
2010 Daniel Bouland Morgon Corcelette (no 179 on our list, rated 92)
2010 Daniel Bouland Morgon Vieilles Vignes (no 180 on our list, rated 92)
A Sparlilng Line-Up
Following Vine Trail's recent champagne tasting in London, Tamlyn Currin writes on 28th July 2011 on Jancis Robinson's website www.jancisrobinson.com on the following VT growers' champagnes:
Jancis has long been an admirer of many growers' champagnes, writing about them back in 2005 (see Which are the best NV champagnes today?), providing interested Purple pagers with a list of reliable growers in 2006, tasting notes in 2009, a revealing blind tasting last year, and more tasting notes in Growers' champagnes from Son of Sampler - all of which makes mouthwatering reading. So it was with alacrity that I leapt at the chance to go to Vine Trail's growers' champagne tasting in May. This is a gem-like collection of champagne producers, each doing something a little different, a little special. From solera ageing to blending finished champagne, from wild and fey to tightly braced, they are all here and all worth seeking out. Vine Trail has a glittering collection and my scores (which tend to towards the enthusiastic most of the time) are embarrassingly high all the way through. I did go back to try to damp them down, but I couldn't.
Larmandier-Bernier
Bérèche
Chartogne-Taillet
Agrapart
Emmanuel Brochet
Jérôme Prévost
Jacques Lassaigne
George Laval
Lilbert
Ulysse Collin
Cédric Bouchard
Bertrand Gautherot
HAMISH ANDERSON SUNDAY TELEGRAPH MAGAZINE 9TH JULY 2011
In his article "Raise your glass", Hamish chooses Vine Trail's
Champagne Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru AC 2004 Extra-Brut Mineral Agrapart & Fils (£34.96 exc VAT)
as one of his best wines for outdoor dining: "Summer's frivolous fizz is well and good, but every now and then I crave something intellectual. This is vinous and textured (without being heavy) but has mineral, salty elements that really mark the palate. This is an extraordinarily serious wine that happens to be fizzy. Drink it with the finest chicken."
Wine: There's more to Alsace than gewürztraminer (Fiona Beckett, The Guardian, 8th July 2011)
If you enjoy the drier styles of Alsace wine - and I do - it pays to experiment with the other varieties the region has to offer.
Dry riesling, however, is Alsace's great glory. Unfortunately, grand cru wines are pricey over here, but I found a brilliant bargain in the
Luss Riesling 2008 (£13.40, Vine Trail, vinetrail.co.uk; 12.5% abv),
a pure, delicately fruity riesling from biodynamic producer Léon Boesch that I think bears comparison with a grand cru. It's lovely with white fish in a creamy sauce, as they have it in Alsace.
In an article in Imbibe Magazine July/August issue, Henrietta Clancy talks to some of the country's top sommeliers to discover their favourite small wine merchants
In the course of polling sommeliers on their favourite small merchants the word ‘trust' came up over and over again. It's no exaggeration to say that these relationships seem almost marital in importance.
Click here to see what they say about Vine Trail.....
John Livingstone-Learmonth rates the following wines as his 2nd and 3rd top 20 white Rhônes "of the moment" in the July issue of Decanter Magazine:
St Joseph Les Oliviers 09, Domaine Gonon (rated 4 star)
St-Péray Les Figuiers 09, Domaine Gripa (rated 4 star)
Matthew Jukes' "favourite new find of the year" in Moneyweek 14th June is
2007 Domaine Gallety, Côtes-du-Vivarais, Southern Rhône, France
click here to read more.........
For Susie Barrie's comments following our growers' champagne tasting see this link.....
http://winchesterwineschool.com/tasting-growers-champagnes
And at the same champagne tasting, Michael Edwards picks the following 3 of our growers' champagnes:
Benoit Lahaye, Brut Essentiel NV (4 star)
Jérôme Prévost, La Closerie Les Béguines, Brut Extra-Brut NV (4 star)
Larmandier-Bernier Terre de Vertus Premier Cru, Non-Dosé (4 star)
See here for his comments in the July issue of Decanter magazine.....
Andrew Jefford highlights the wines of Dirler-Cadé after attending the organic wine fair, Millésime Bio in Montpelier (DECANTER June 2011).
click here to read more.......
In the Northern Rhône 2009 Vintage Report in Decanter's April 2011 issue, John Livingstone-Learmonth picks the following Vine Trail wines -
5 stars
Hermitage, Bernard Faurie (rated 18.5)
Côte Rôtie Benjamin & David Duclaux, Maison Rouge (rated 18.5)
Côte Rôtie, Domaine Clusel Roch, La Viaillière (rated 19.5/20)
Côte Rôtie, Domaine Clusel Roch, Les Grandes Places (rated 19)
Domaine Garon, Les Rochains (rated 18.5)
4 stars
Cornas, Domaine E & J Durand, Empreintes (rated 18)
click here to read more.....
ROBERT PARKER'S RECENT COMMENTS ON VINE TRAIL WINES
Cécile Tremblay, Agrapart Champagne, Domaine du Mortier & Jean-Philippe Fichet
From 11 Dec 2010 by Jancis Robinson/FT 75 sure-fire whites
Jancis on 6 of our whites:
Gilles Berlioz 2009 Chignin
Pascal Pauget Chardonnay 2008 Mâcon
Dom des Entrefaux 2009 Crozes-Hermitage
Cyril Fhal 2007 Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes
Julien Labet, Les Varrons 2007 Côtes du Jura
Gérard Boulay, Clos de Beaujeu 2008 Sancerre
click here to read more.........
From 4 Dec 2010 by Jancis Robinson/FT 100 sure-fire reds
Jancis on 4 of our reds:
Dom des Terres Falmet, L'Ivresse des Cimes 2006 St-Chinian
Dom Charvin 2008 Côtes du Rhône
Daniel Bouland 2009 Chiroubles
Marcel Lapierre 2009 Morgon
Hamish Anderson in Saturday Telegraph Magazine 4th December on our Crémant d'Alsace NV from Dirler-Cadé
Vine Trailblazers
EXCERPTS FROM 24 Nov 2010 by Jancis Robinson PURPLE PAGES
Jancis recently attended our annual London tasting and has written an article on the tasting on her website www.jancisrobinson.com on 24th November.
To read what she says about VineTrail click here......
For her comments on Champagne Ulysse Collin Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs and Larmandier-Bernier Vieille Vigne de Cramant Grand Cru Extra Brut 2004 Champagne click here...... and for her notes on the following White Wines click more.....
Gilles Berlioz Chignin 2009
Gérard Boulay Sancerre Clos de Beaujeu 2008
Léon Boesch Alsace Riesling 2008
Pascal Pauget Mâcon-Chardonnay 2008
Julien Labet Côtes du Jura Les Varrons 2007
Cyril Fhal VPD des Côtes Catalanes 2007
Domaine Entrefaux Crozes-Hermitage Blanc 2009
For her notes on the following Red Wines click here....
Daniel Bouland Chiroubles 2009
Thibeaud-Maillet Pomerol 2004
Pierre Gonon St-Joseph Rouge 2006
Eric & Joël Durand Cornas Empreintes 2006
Domaine de Ferrand Côtes du Rhône Vieilles Vignes 2005
Domaine des Terres Falmet St Chinian L'Ivresse des Cimes 2006
Jean-Baptiste Senat Minervois Bois des Merveilles 2006
ROBERT PARKER ON NATURAL WINES (from the Southern Rhone Roller Coaster
Issue 191, 31st October 2010)
For an alternative view on "natural wines" click here.....
JANCIS ROBINSON - PURPLE PAGES 15th November 2010
Georges Laval, Brut Premier Cru NV Champagne 17.5 Drink 2010-2014
50% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier
Using biodynamic principles these wines are made from only 2 ha of vineyard in the premier cru village of Cumières in the Vallée de Marne. Primary fermentation is carried out in old oak demi muids and are bottled late (10 months) with no fining or filtration. Lovely zest and direction - very pure and targeted. Very delicate and slightly appley. Very pure indeed - obviously artisanal. Excellent.
£38.50 Vine Trail
Two of Vine Trail's wines from the Loire featured in the £10-£20 section of Hamish's article in the TELEGRAPH MAGAZINE 10TH JULY 2010
HAMISH ANDERSON Bacchic beauties - The best of summer drinking
2009 Sancerre Rosé - Gérard Boulay Loire Valley £14.50
2008 St-Nicolas de Bourgueil ‘Les Graviers' - Domaine du Mortier, Loire Valley £11.25
In a World of Fine Wine tasting (Issue 27 July 2010) of Malbec wines from Argentina and Cahors, Gérard Basset, owner of Hotel Terravina and now winner of 2010 Best Sommelier in the World nominated Domaine La Bérangeraie's Cahors Les Quatre Chambrées de la Bérangeraie Cahors AOC 2008 the best wine.
The tasters - Tim Atkin, Gérard Basset and Anthony Rose blind tasted 41 wines (21 from Cahors). Read more for their comments on our Cahors (£11.28 exc VAT bt) ......
JANCIS ROBINSON ON COTE ROTIE CLUSEL-ROCH AC 04
From www.jancisrobinson.com 25 June 2010
A strong, gamey nose peppered with cumin and caraway seed. Sweet dried fruit steeped in strong tea. A palate that builds and unfolds in the mouth, unabashedly vigorous. Lots of savoury dried leaves and autumnal spice. A wine that reminds me in a long line, that the first duty of a wine is to be drunk, not tasted and judged. £25.32 exc VAT bt
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar Issue 149 March/April 2010
In a tasting of Sancerre & Pouilly Fumé from 107 growers, 2 of Gérard Boulay's Sancerres were rated joint best and the whole range did exceptionally well. 93 was the joint highest mark of all Sancerres and Pouilly-Fumés in the tasting.
Hand picked in the Rhône
19 Apr 2010 by Jancis Robinson (taken from Tasting Notes on jancisrobinson.com)
Here is a selection of Jancis's tasting notes following our recent Rhône tasting at The Ambassador on Gripa, Gonon, Murinais, Duclaux, Durand, Robert Michel, Le Sang des Cailloux, Raspail-Ay and Domaine de Ferrand......
'The excellent UK importer Vine Trail, which hand picks the wines it offers on the basis of detailed research in French cellars and vineyards, showed off many of its current offerings from the Rhône valley recently and below are my enthusiastic notes. Their 2005 Côte Rôtie showed particularly well.
I already made the most obvious bargain a wine of the week but there are many other wines worthy of your attention here. And I urge you to look at the background to them all on Vine Trail's website.'
Jancis Robinson allots 18/20 to Larmandier-Bernier, Vieille Vigne de Cramant Grand Cru Extra Brut 2004 Champagne in a recent article on her website www.jancisrobinson.com on champagnes:
Fine, complex nose. There's a bit of putty on the nose and this style nicely splits the difference between super funky and user friendly. Dry, very tightly laced and intense. Nervy. Good stuff! (Drink 2010-2020)
John Livingstone-Learmonth picks 2 Vine Trail wines from the Rhône in an article in Decanter's February 2010 issue on best value wines of France -
Domaine Gonon's St Joseph Rouge 2006 (rated 17.5) and
Domaine Oratoire St-Martin's Réserve des Seigneurs, Cairanne Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages 2007 (rated 17.5)
Peter Liem on Jérôme Prévost
from The World of Fine Wine Issue 25 2009
CHRISTMAS 2009 - RECOMMENDATIONS Champagnes:
Lilbert Brut Perle Grand Cru NV Champagne, Blanc de Blancs
Bérèche, Chartogne-Taillet, Larmandier-Bernier George Laval & Lilbert champagnes
Reviewed by Hamish Anderson & Tim Atkin & Jancis Robinson
DECANTER SOUTHERN RHÔNE 2007 TASTING (JANUARY 2010 ISSUE)
5 star award (& best value) for Domaine Raspail-Ay Gigondas
‘Bouquet forming gradually: some grilled notes, black fruit, leather tang - great potential. Good black fruit present, nice juiciness backed by lively tannins. Fruit persists on aftertaste. From 2010.' (John Livingstone-Learmonth)
4 star award for Domaine du Grapillon d'Or Gigondas
‘Fine, pure, dark plum aroma. Nice meaty plum fruit, warm and roasted notes. Chewy tannins. Good length of flavour. Will need a year or two to settle. From 2011.' (David Wainwright)
Extract from the American wine writer, Peter Liem's blog on Bertrand Gautherot - Day 9: Vouette & Sorbée Champagne