Another great review…

The Crusher Pinot Noir receives yet another recommendation, this time from online wine blogger Tom Cannavan -

http://www.wine-pages.com/temp/crusher-pinot.htm
The Crusher, Pinot Noir 2011, California
Pinot Noir from California is on the up and up, but generally prices are high. This week however a very well-priced example is The Crusher, coming from vineyards in Clarksburg. With 13.5% alcohol, and fermented with wild yeast before agein in French oak, it has a nice lightness to its colour and lovely aromatics. There is coffee and woodsmoke, a touch of exotic incense too and a fresh raspberry and more plummy fruit. In the mouth there is plenty of vanilla and coffeeish toast, but there is authentic, gently earthy and fresh Pinot Noir fruit too with a certain agility and good length. Watch the video for more information and food matching suggestions. £10.00, Villeneuve Wines, and see all stockists on wine-searcher.

http://www.wine-pages.com/temp/crusher-pinot.htm

California Dreaming – The Guardian

After another hugely successful day at the Wine Institute of California annual tasting, we were delighted to see that Fiona Beckett mentioned two of our wines in her “California Dreaming” article which appeared in The Guardian magazine on Saturday the 6th of April.

The Crusher Pinot Noir and Smoking Loon Syrah appeared in her article looking for affordable, good quality wines from California, something we pride ourselves in being able to offer.

Here are a couple of snippets from her article. 

“British importers are trying to bring over more in the £8-£15 price bracket, some rather more successfully than others. I don’t really think the world needs another chardonnay, or even another porty, high-alcohol zinfandel, but there’s always room for a well-priced pinot noir. It’s hard to beat the silkily sweet the Crusher Wilson Vineyard Pinot Noir which is good value by any standard.”

“I can’t help feeling, though, that California’s USP should be to offer the wine world a bit of fun rather than copycat bordeaux or burgundy. No one quite equals the great Randall Grahm in his heyday (Cardinal Zin being one of the all-time-great wine names), but let’s have more wines such as the 2011 Smoking Loon Syrah, a good, gutsy, spicy red that would be great with the first of the season’s barbecues.”

For the full article click on the link

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/apr/05/californian-wine-fiona-beckett-review

Decanter May – Washington – Powers

Well done Powers - three of their wines are featured in Stephen Brooks article on Washington wines in the May issue of Decanter!

Stephen Brooks says;

“The state is also fortunate that some of its big players, such as Chateau Ste Michelle and Powers, produce excellent wines at very fair prices…… If only European wine drinkers were a bit more adventurous.”  Thank you for great reviews Stephen and well done again to Powers!

 

 

WWA Shortlisted for Two Categories @ Harpers Awards 2013

We are delighted to announce that WWA have been shortlisted for two categories at this year’s Harpers Awards.  For the second year in a row we have been shortlisted for Best Supplier to the Independents and this year we are also in the running for Best Overall Agent of the Year.  Results will be announced on May 21st 2013.  Very many thanks to the WWA team for their continuing hard work,  and to all of our customers and suppliers, who help make our success possible.

See us at Wines of California Tasting!

Come and see our great range of Californian wines – stand No 20

http://www.californiawinetasting2013.co.uk/

Wines of California Annual Tasting 2013

World Wine Agencies Show Off a Full Californian Selection at WIC Tasting, March 18th 2013

Bath based importer, World Wine Agencies will be showing off a selection of Californian wines at the WIC tasting in March, that covers a wide range of varietals, wine styles, regions and price points. The wines on show will include:

• An entry level, European packaged trio that can be packed with exclusive labels designed by our own in-house design team. RSP £7.99
• A superb European-style Zinfandel from Lodi. RSP £9.99
• A mid-tier selection from World-famous producer Sebastiani, which includes Viognier, Cabernet, Syrah, Chardonnay, and two Pinot Noirs. RSP £10.99
• Award winning Napa Valley wines from Silverado Vineyards, the top 15th luxury brand in America, consistently scoring high points with all reviewers, and highlighted by Decanter as one of USA’s best Cabernets for the past three vintages. RSP £25 – £70

Owner and Director, Nicky Burston worked with World-famous Napa Valley Estate Robert Mondavi for five years, and it was there that she developed her knowledge and passion for Californian wines. Using her own experience of the UK market, and knowledge of Californian wine growing regions, Nicky has specifically sourced wines that she feels fill genuine gaps in the market, particularly good quality Californian wines, that can be offered exclusively to the Independent sector, at good value price points.

Two World Wine Agencies wines will also be shown on the table specifically designated for Independent Merchants.

For more information please contact Nicky Burston

2012 California Grape Harvest sees quantity and quality improvements

California has confirmed a record 2012 grape harvest both in terms of volume and price. Wine grape volumes showed particular growth, with a 19% rise for red wine grapes and a 21% rise for white wine grapes.

Despite this significant uplift in volume, prices also soared to their highest ever recorded level. Red wine grapes sold for an average price of $879.04 per ton, a 24% increase on 2011, while white wine grape growers enjoyed a 15% price hike on last year at $623.50/ton.

Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon topped the chart for both volume and price, representing 16.8% and 11.3% of the total grape crush. The highest average grape price was paid in Napa County, at $3,578.79 per ton, an increase of 5% on 2011.

Following the relatively small harvest of 2011, producers welcomed the quality and quantity of grapes available in 2012. As positive reports flooded in during the harvest, Robert P. Koch, president and CEO of the Wine Institute, remarked: “The 2012 vintage will offer consumers in our growing national and international markets fantastic choices.”

The Crusher & Smoking Loon wines start 2013 with more accolades

What a way to start the year! Carrying on from the success of 2012, Don and Sons receive more accolades. This time at the 2013 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Highlights include -
The Crusher 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Best of Class
The Crusher 2011 Petite Sirah Gold
The Crusher 2011 Red Wine Blend Silver
The Crusher 2011 Viognier Bronze
Smoking Loon 2011 Pinot Noir Silver
Smoking Loon 2011 Chardonnay Bronze
Smoking Loon 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Bronze

Wines with WOW Factor at SITT Spring Tastings 2013

World Wine Agencies are delighted to be particpating in the upcoming SITT Spring Tastings where we will be showing a selection of wines, covering a wide variety of styles, price points and countries, but they all have one thing in common; they are all 100% exclusive to the independent sector.

For those of you not familiar with SITT (the Specialist Importers Trade Tastings), they run over two days, one in Manchester and one in London. Only a hand-picked selection of specialist importers, boutique wineries and agencies are invited to participate at the tastings. The audience is made-up of independent on and off-trade buyers and some of the country’s most influential wine columnists, bloggers and journalists.

WWA will also be launching its newest Agency to the trade at SITT: A range of beautiful and well- priced wines from Domaine Antugnac in the Haute Valle Languedoc region, the first French wines to enter their portfolio.

WWA would like to see as many independent customers as possible at their stand, and so have designed a fantastic incentive.  Visit us (stand number 43) and taste our wines to enter our prize draw to win an all-expenses visit to Domaine Antugnac in the summer.  The winner will be announced in the Post-Show email on Tuesday 5^th March.

For more details please contact nb@worldwineagencies.com

 

 

 

2012 Vintage Report Reichsrat von Buhl

Never before has Reichsrat von Buhl had such a long, staggered harvest and after 7 weeks and 2 days, we wound up the harvest on 30th of October, exhausted but happy. In glorious autumn weather, we started with the base wines for sparkling wines and the pinots blancs and later we adapted to the pace of nature and only harvested grapes on dry days. This was also made possible by the increasingly cooler temperatures, with no issue with rot and acid values remaining stable. From an organisational point of view, this was a huge challenge, but one which was rewarded with perfectly ripened, sound grapes and optimum must weights.

The year began with a freezing cold winter that just would not go away and yet in the cold season, the vines also ought to rest and recharge their batteries. In mid-March, it became milder and despite a sluggish April, budding and flowering on 25th of April and 8th of June respectively, were more or less in line with the long-term average. The extremely loose clusters of berries following irrigation in the cool spring have the advantage, particularly with Riesling, that the grapes dry quickly after rainfall and in general are less susceptible to rot and infections. A cold snap at the end of May caused a rise in blood pressure but we were fortunately left unscathed by the threat of frost damage.
Further growth went ahead smoothly, with July providing the supply of moisture while August delivered wonderful sunny weather, allowing further ripening to proceed.
Work now continues in the cellar, with spotlessly clean must and smooth fermentation rewarding us for the painstaking work in the vineyard. The benchmark is set for cellar master Michael Leibrecht to once again create top quality wines from the 2012 vintage.
The 2012 vintage promises you wines of superb clarity and brilliance.

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