Sunday 9 September 2012

Champagne Lallier Trophy Award..


Champagne-LallierCongratulations to Champagne Lallier for their outstanding Champagnes and fantastic win at the International Wine Challenge competition 2012.



Non Vintage Champagne Trophy – Champagne Lallier Grande Reserve International Wine Challenge 2012 

Find it on our website: www.frenchwines-direct.co.uk



Award winning wine, our judges said:

"Bright pale straw colour with bead. Fine, toasts, biscuitly nose. The palate has vivacious, fresh, nutty, toasty flavoury with good balancy acidity"  International Wine Challenge 2012

Other Awards

  • NV: IWC Trophy Winners 2012 - Non Vintage Champagne Trophy
  • NV: International Wine Challenge 2012 - Gold
  • NV: International Wine & Spirit Competition 2012 - Silver
  • NV: Decanter 2012 - Bronze
  • NV: International Wine & Spirit Competition 2011 - Silver
  • NV: Sommelier Wine Awards 2011 - Silver
  • NV: Sommelier Wine Awards 2010 - Gold list & By the Glass Award
  • NV: Decanter World Wine Awards 2010 - Bronze

Press Quotes

  • NV: "Bright pale straw colour with bead. Fine, toasts, biscuitly nose. The palate has vivacious, fresh, nutty, toasty flavoury with good balancy acidity." International Wine Challenge 2012
  • NV: "Attractively yeasty and bready on the nose, this has a complex palate of white, green and citrus fruits. Susanna Forbes, Team Leader, felt the 'depth added to the food potential.'" Sommelier Wine Awards 2011, Judges Comments
  • NV: "Round and spicy with less fruit and more finesse. Classy and complex, balanced, with nice acidity. Drinking well now." Judges Comments, Decanter World Wine Awards 2010
  • NV: "Pale gold, not too fruity with some savoury yeast notes and good minerality that make it particularly food-friendly. 'Try it with a mushroom risotto' said Tom Forrest." "'The soft, fruity style would be good with fish in hollandaise sauce, but it's a very vinous wine with a lovely mouthfeel, too.' Hamish Anderson, Tate Group - paired with poached white fish." "The Lallier's roundness and richness gave it great versatility - and allows you to run the aperitif wine through the starter, too."Sommelier Wine Awards 2010, Judges comments
  • NV: "Good brioche nose, honey citrus and apple well balanced with some toasty complexity. Rich and full, with good weight." Sommelier Wine Awards 2009, Judges Comments

Meet the producer

Champagne LallierChampagne Lallier are a small family concern crafting Pinot Noir blends from their own  (and some specially selected other) 'Grand Cru' vineyards in Ay - also home to Bollinger but Lallier's cellars are older,  Avize, and Cramant.  


Saturday 8 September 2012

90 points! ‘Smart buy’ for our Cotes du Rhone Villages Les Coteaux

A sneak preview of Wine Spectator’s September 2012 edition brought great news for the  recognition of our wine: Les Coteaux Côtes du Rhône Villages 2009:


This broad, gutsy red delivers lots of mouthfilling plum, blackberry, roasted fig, bramble, smouldering tobacco and warm stone notes. Dark and dense through the finish, but well-delineated. Drink now through 2016. 90 points” James Molesworth.

To be included as a ‘Smart Buy’ in the Buying Guide, 30th September 2012 issue.


Find it on our website

Click here: www.frenchwines-direct.co.uk







Other Awards

  • 2009 Vintage: 90 Points in The Wine Spectator: “This broad, gutsy red delivers lots of mouthfilling plum, blackberry, roasted fig, bramble, smoldering tobacco and warm stone notes. Dark and dense through the finish, but well-delineated. Drink now through 2016. 3,000 cases imported.—J.M.” James Molesworth writing for The Wine Spectator. September 2012.
  • 2009 Vintage:  Sommelier Wine Awards 2012 - Gold
  • 2009 Vintage: International Wine & Spirit Competition 2012 - Silver
  • 2009 Vintage: China Best Value Wine Awards 2012: Gold Award
  • 2009 Vintage: Decanter 2012 - Bronze
  • 2007 Vintage: China Wine Challenge 2011 - Bronze 2007 Vintage: IWSC 2011 - Silver
  • 2006 Vintage: Sommelier Wine Awards 2010 - Gold & Critic's Choice Award
  • 2006 Vintage: IWSC 2009 - Bronze

Press Quotes

  • 2009 Vintage: "Unfussy and flavoursome – and excellent value left our panel in no doubt, this was Gold material. Black fruit flavours with hints of spice and a medicinal note to the nose. On the palate, consultant Sarah Jane Evans MW said: 'Very juicy, with a mocha note. Very fun - good House Wine,' while consultant Peter McCombie MW simply said 'Gutsy!' Food matches range from pub classic shepherds pie to plum crumble." Sommelier Wine Awards 2012 2006 Vintage: "A medium-ruby wine that has plenty of light, savoury, earthy notes and some tannins supporting the finish. 'Dark fruits and spicy, slightly meaty richness' said an approving Tom Forrest." In a competition where only 5 Golds were awarded to Rhone wines, 4 were supplied by Boutinot, with 2 actually being made by Boutinot. "...we must also pass special congratulations to Boutinot. Its two cheaper reds were excellent value for money and ought to be must-stocks for any venue." "Quite how the winemakers have managed to produce a Gold list-winning Rhone red at this price, I have no idea. Ridiculously good value, with approachable fruit but also a real sense of place, this wine deserves to be the workhorse red on lists up and down the country." Sommelier Wine Awards 2010, Judges Comments