Press Releases
Boisset America EXPERIENCES RECORD GROWTH IN 2004, EXPECTING EXCELLENCE IN 2005
December 29, 2004
NUITS ST GEORGE, FRANCE - Boisset, France's third largest wine
firm, with its deepest roots in Burgundy, has developed since 1961 along
highly original lines. This family firm, now in its second generation,
breaks new ground year after year in its constant pursuit of excellence
for its still wines, sparkling wines, and spirits.
One of the firm's hallmarks is unity in diversity. It is a federation of firms, many of them with a long history, on a human scale, and united in their commitment to the Boisset philosophy. The notion of terroir is crucial and what it means may be seen in action at the Domaine de la Vougeraie. Our "viniculturalists" ("viniculteurs"), a term we have invented, form the link between vineyard, winery and wine-cellar, moving around the wine-growing districts in a permanent search for ever more authentic wines. From now on, the term "viniculteur" will replace that of "négociant-éleveur"as being a better description of a profession which today has much closer links with the earth.
In the United States, 2004 was a historic and particularly action-packed year with the coming together of Boisset USA, Marie Brizard Wines & Spirits USA and DeLoach Vineyards of California. This triple-strength union endows Boisset America with a critical mass sufficient to ensure its survival as a major operator in the Boisset Family's number two market. The partnership between Boisset and DeLoach Vineyards, in the Russian River Valley, united Boisset with a domaine in “America’s Burgundy” planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. DeLoach is now linked, through Boisset’s expertise with those noble Burgundian grapes, with our other domaines in France and elsewhere in the world.
Additionally, through the acquisition of Marie Brizard Wines & Spirits USA, Boisset America now has a solid base for the development and distribution of premium liquor brands in the U.S. market.
Meanwhile, back in France, the 2004 vintage, following unsettled weather conditions, called for all the skills of of our viniculturalists from Chablis to Orange. Quality choice and parcel selection – measures in force for some years now – were more relevant than ever with this difficult harvest, and, more than ever, rigour brought its rewards. This year also saw the first real vintage for Le Clos Jordanne at Niagara in Canada, where Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are grown.
The 2004 harvest was also the occasion chosen by Jaffelin of Beaune ("the smallest of the big houses of Beaune") to write a new chapter in the history of their headquarters at Rue Paradis with the unveiling of their micro-cuvées and their village wines under the signature of Pierre Vincent. And the firm of Jean-Claude Boisset scored a success with their ground-breaking launch of fine wines in screw-top bottles.
In 2004, art, as always, went hand-in-hand with wine. At Nuits-Saint-Georges, Joyce Delimata's tondos illustrated vat-fermentation and delighted visitors to the cellars. And Mommessin's pop art was a celebration at once of 70s culture and of the Beaujolais Nouveau now delighting the wine-drinkers of five continents.
Last but not least, 2004 has been the year of the "bubblies".
The market for festive sparklers is, in fact, showing extraordinary fizz.
Boisset is concentrating all its expertise on the "traditional method"
sparkling wines of Charles de Fère and in particular on the Crémant
de Bourgogne of Louis Bouillot, though at the same time things are on
the move in the Loire, in Savoy, and at Limoux. As earnest of how seriously
Boisset takes this sector, a new winery will be opening in the spring
of 2005.
Press contacts: In France - Céline Colle & Nathalie Bergès-Boisset
- colle@boisset.fr - presse@boisset.fr, tel : [0]3 80 62 61 61; In the
US - Patrick Egan - patricke@boissetamerica.com, tel: 800-878-1123.
Read the entire contents of Les Nouvelles de Boisset:
www.en.communiquesdepresse.boisset.fr/
