AWC (Antique Wine Company) Unlocks Exclusive Rights to Pomerol's Best Kept Secret, Château Belle-Brise
LONDON, October 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
Wine from the appellation of Pomerol is considered some of the best in the world and leading fine wine and spirits merchant, AWC has been granted the exclusive UK distribution and import rights for one of its most sought-after producers, Château Belle-Brise. The winery is hidden along Pomerol's far, southern border and at just two acres, releases less than 500 cases in a typical vintage. With production levels similar to that of nearby Chateau Le Pin, these small annual allocations have been historically snapped up by a few savvy wine enthusiasts with inside knowledge.
The estate was acquired by Henri-Bruno de la Fontaine de Coincy and his family in 1991 and has since been revitalised with a focus on utilising non-interventionist production methods wherever possible, and ensuring that the wines reflect the expression of the property's tiny terroir. Belle-Brise also holds the distinction of having become the first producer in Pomerol to reintroduce the use of horses to work the vines. This new partnership with AWC builds on Château Belle-Brise's existing cult following and will ensure that British wine enthusiasts, collectors and connoisseurs finally have the opportunity to secure cases of this elusive wine.
A number of vintages are available through AWC including the 2007 Château Belle-Brise, which wine critic Neal Martin recently tasted in AWC's Marylebone Wine Academy. He described it as having "a fresh, well-defined bouquet with plenty of black and red berry fruit…there is a pastille-like element at play…aromatics of real complexity…lending it purity." AWC also sells the 2011, 2010 and 2009 vintages, with the 2009 having been described by Wine Advocate magazine's Neal Martin as, "Burgundian on the nose with fine lift…the palate is velvety smooth and lithe in the mouth, not a single hair out of place here."
Furthermore, AWC is also able to offer clients a number of vintages (dating back to 1893) of La Fontaine de Coincy Armagnac. Prior to producing wine in Pomerol, this was (and continues to be) the original de Coincy family business. Henri-Bruno is simply the most recent steward of the farm distillery that has been producing outstanding single vintages of Bas-Armagnac in the region for over 700 years. Since 1973 all vintages of the spirit have been double-distilled in a pot still, whilst prior vintages were single distilled. With very few bottles remaining in the de Coincy cellars, the selection available through AWC makes for a perfect digestif.
Stephen Williams, managing director of AWC comments: "Our clients are now part of the lucky few who will have the opportunity to taste wines from Château Belle-Brise, one of Pomerol's best kept secrets. Although the exclusivity commitment is a new and important step, we have been working internationally with Belle Brise for a while so I am pleased to say that many of the vintages now appear on the wine lists of some of the world's most prestigious restaurants including Senderens, le Grand Véfour, George Blanc, Alain Ducasse and Louis XV Monaco. At AWC we want to introduce and supply our clients with some of the most exciting wines and spirits from across the world, and these wines are a rare treat - they're quite untraditional in style with a complexity that almost resembles fine red Burgundy, a great asset to anyone's collection and a real talking point!"
About AWC
AWC is a luxury wine and spirits company that was originally established 25 years ago by current CEO Stephen Williams. From its headquarters in London and its two sales offices in Asia, AWC supplies fine wine to private individuals, hotels, restaurants, and the global wine trade.
While maintaining a passion for antique vintages, the company's product range is principally composed of contemporary vintages which are capable of becoming the antiques of the future. Irrespective of vintage, the company only trades in exceptionally fine wine.
Internationally recognised as experts in the fine wine industry, AWC's exclusive stocks and services are highly sought-after. The company routinely manages, provides advice on and actively supports wine cellars that are held in châteaux, palaces, grand hotels and exclusive, private residences worldwide.
In 2013 AWC Global PLC, a UK Public Limited Company, became the ultimate parent of AWC's regional trading entities and it is currently engaged in a multi-year programme of expansion into traditional and emerging fine wine and spirits markets around the globe.
As a company, AWC is uniquely positioned amongst international wine merchants due to its long-standing sourcing and customer relationships, its strong brand image, the impressive physical premises of its global headquarters in London, and its substantial stock holdings, all supported by an operational infrastructure that enables it to provide the highest level of efficiency and personalised client services.
Share this article