A nice interview with Florent Baumard in which he discusses a range of topics.
BK Wine interview with Florent Baumard
May 7th, 2012VINTUS Miami Tasting!
April 17th, 2012Super tasting in Miami yesterday!
Loire valley wines winning new fans
October 26th, 2011On Thursday, October 13, 2011, The Miami Herald online posted a great article on the Loire Valley’s ability to make excellent wines from grapes that elsewhere are considered “second-rate”. They say that their climate and soils combination create fresh, lively, and crisp with acid wines that are pleasant as aperitifs and great with food. Not only are the Loire Valley wines producing excellent wines but they are sold at friendly prices. Below is an excerpt of the wines that were most highly recommended – note the multiple mentions of Domaine des Baumard!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
• 2007 Domaine des Baumard ‘Quarts de Chaume’ Dessert Wine (chenin blanc), Loire Valley, France: crisp and sweet, with flavors of honey and apricots; $60.
• 2007 Domaine Fournier Sancerre ‘Grande Cuvée’ (sauvignon blanc), Loire Valley, France: hearty and rich, with pink grapefruit flavors; $23.
RECOMMENDED
• 2007 Domaine des Baumard Savennières (chenin blanc), Loire Valley, France: oaky aroma, rich, honeyed quality, tart finish; $23.
• 2008 Domaine des Baumard Savennières ‘Clos du Papillon’ Single Vineyard (chenin blanc), Loire Valley, France: rich, aromatic, with nutty aromas and burnt sugar flavors; $35.
• 2009 Domaine Fournier Sancerre ‘Les Belles Vignes’ (sauvignon blanc), Loire Valley, France: light and crisp, with white grapefruit flavors; $22.
• 2008 Domaine Furnier Sancerre ‘Cuvee Silex’ (sauvignon blanc), Loire Valley, France: very crisp, with aromas and flavors of lemons and limes; $23.
To read the full article, click here.
(Featured Bottle Image- Domaine des Baumard ‘Quarts de Chaume’ Dessert Wine)
Quarts de Chaume to become first Loire Grand Cru
October 18th, 2011It looks like Quarts de Chaume may become the Loire Valley’s first Grand Cru. The Baumard family have long worked to have this historic appellation recognized – this is a big moment! See below the article that was posted on Decanter (also found here: http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/529438/quarts-de-chaume-to-become-loire-valley-s-first-grand-cru)
Quarts de Chaume to become Loire Valley’s first Grand Cru
Thursday 13 October 2011
Quarts de Chaume in Anjou is awaiting ministerial approval to become the Loire’s first Grand Cru.
On 28 September the national committee of appellations body the INAO approved the proposal. It now awaits the signature of the French minister of agriculture for final approval.
At the same meeting the creation of Coteaux du Layon Premier Cru Chaume was approved. Both decisions were unanimous.
There are strict rules for both Quarts de Chaume and Coteaux du Layon Premier Cru Chaume. These include no chaptalisation and yields of 20 hectolitres per hectare for Quarts, and 25hl/ha for Chaume.
Alcohol levels are 18.5 minimum potential alcohol for Quarts and 16.5 for Chaume.
Two previous attempts to elevate Chaume to a cru status have failed due to successful legal challenges by leading Anjou producer Domaine des Baumard.
The French courts annulled the AC Chaume Premier Cru in 2005, and Coteaux du Layon in May 2009.
The Baumard family had claimed successfully that these distinctions for Chaume devalued Quarts de Chaume and created potential confusion for wine drinkers.
Claude Papin, president of the Syndicat Quarts de Chaume, told Decanter.com, ‘Quarts de Chaume grand cru recognises our conviction the typicité of our wines should come from a respect for the terroir and the climate of each vintage and not from wine-making techniques.
‘This is a very important development that opens the way to creating crus throughout Loire, providing they have similarly strict rules.’
Huge Reviews for Baumard 2008s in Wine Spectator Insider
July 6th, 2011Tremendous reviews in the July 6th issue of the Wine Spectator Insider for Baumard’s 2008 Quarts de Chaume and Clos de Sainte Catherine. These will be available this fall, and we are offering them on presell throughout the country now. Reviews are as follows:
Quarts de Chaume 2008
“Rich, but pure and incredibly focused, with a laser beam of chamomile and quince cutting through the core of dried pineapple, white peach, Cavaillon melon and green plum. The finish has buried minerality, gorgeous mouthfeel and superb length”. 95 Points Wine Spectator
Clos de Sainte-Catherine 2008, Coteaux du Layon
“Ripe, pure and precise, with rich yet mouthwatering creamed Jonagold apple, quince and Cavaillon melon notes laced with alluring chamomile and heather. The long finish is nicely wound.” 92 Points Wine Spectator
Florent Baumard on BKWine
November 15th, 2010Winemaker Florent Baumard of Domaine des Baumard discusses his Quarts de Chaumes, a sweet wine that is never heavy and leaves the mouth dry, just the thing to win over the adherents of dry red wine.
VINTUS NEW U.S. IMPORTER OF E. GUIGAL; ACQUIRES EX-CELLARS
October 6th, 2010VINTUS NEW U.S. IMPORTER OF E. GUIGAL; ACQUIRES EX CELLARS
VINTUS and E. GUIGAL are pleased to announce they have entered into a long-term distribution agreement granting VINTUS the responsibility for the exclusive sales and marketing of GUIGAL wines in the United States. In a related transaction, VINTUS has purchased the assets of former GUIGAL importer Ex Cellars Wines Agencies.
VINTUS, founded in 2004, is a national importer and marketing company for leading fine wine estates around the world. VINTUS President and founder Michael Quinttus commented: “It is an honor and the fulfillment of a long dream to now represent the wines of GUIGAL, the leading producer in the Rhone Valley and one of the world’s iconic brands. Adding GUIGAL and other Ex Cellars producers such as Baumard, Philipponnat, François Lurton, D. Milhade, Château de Beauregard, Talmard and Dog Point to our portfolio is a seamless extension of our efforts to offer wine lovers and our distributor, retail and restaurant partners the finest wines in the world.”
Marcel and Philippe Guigal, with a fanatical devotion to quality and terroir, have set the highest production standards in the region, ranging from best-value Côtes du Rhônes to once-in-a-lifetime single-vineyard bottles such as La Mouline, La Turque and La Landonne from Côte-Rôtie. Reflecting on the transition to VINTUS after working for more than 40 years with importer Fred Ek, founder of Ex Cellars, Marcel and Philippe stated: “We will be eternally grateful to Fred Ek for introducing our wines to the U.S. in the 1960’s. Fred, Patrick and their team have given American wine lovers access to our wines for decades. We have also known and respected Michael for many years, and have watched as the VINTUS organization has developed. We believe his company is the natural next home for GUIGAL.”
According to Fred Ek, co-owner of Ex Cellars: “After so many years working with GUIGAL and my other friends in France, successively in retail, wholesale with Classic Wine Imports and finally Ex Cellars, it is a pleasure to pass them along to Michael Quinttus.” Patrick Will, co-owner of Ex Cellars, will become Vice President, Brand Management & Development at VINTUS. He adds, “it has been a pleasure and an honor to work with Fred and these wonderful producers for 14 years. I look forward to being part of what has undoubtedly become one of the very top fine wine portfolios in the country.”
VINTUS represents a diverse, international range of extraordinary wineries including Chateau Montelena, Quinta do Noval, Errazuriz, Ch. Pétrus, Ch. Margaux, Ch. La Fleur-Pétrus, Bruno Paillard, Marcel Deiss, Lucien Le Moine, Mas Belles Eaux, Sandrone, Petrolo, Enrico Santini, Schiopetto, Richard Sanford’s Alma Rosa Winery, Finca Decero, Telmo Rodriguez, Ferrer Bobet, Disznoko, Mitolo, Shaw + Smith, Delta, and Quinta da Romaneira. For more information, visit their website at www.vintuswines.com.
Founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal, E. GUIGAL is based in Ampuis and has been the leading producer of Rhône Valley wines for decades. Etienne’s son Marcel has led the development of the family firm since 1961, and Marcel’s son Philippe, oenologist, works by his side to carry on their traditions of quality, preservation and innovation. GUIGAL produces a wide range of Rhône wines: legendary wines from Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, Condrieu, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Crozes-Hermitage and Tavel; and of course Côtes du Rhône red, rosé and white that represent some of the greatest values in the wine world. Their website is www.guigal.com.