06/23/2014 - A World of Wine, with Old Bridge Cellars

Gavin Speight of Old Bridge Cellars is fresh from a trip to Burgundy to check on their Pinot Noir project,Maison L'Envoye. He brings us a taste of Burgundy and their Pinot Noir portfolio, as well as a tour "regionale" of Australia, where the majority of their wines hail from.

Gavin Speight

Wine and Marketing Director

Old Bridge Cellars

 

In this age of ‘big company’ buyouts, increasing consolidation and mass production, Old Bridge Cellars brings to you a group of fiercely independent winemakers who retain their belief in artisan winemaking. Coming to know their land through the generations before them, they have an intuitive understanding, quiet confidence and desire to produce only the best they can from each vintage. In standing resolute behind their own style, they’ve established themselves as regional pioneers, benchmarks and leaders alike, universally acclaimed by wine critics across the globe.

 

Representing these highly sought after, compelling wines since 1990, Old Bridge Cellars has become the US importer of choice for iconic Australian wines. Their allegiance to fine wine and regional expression has been recognized in such publications as The Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Wine& Spirits, International Wine Cellar and Wine Enthusiast. Robert Parker of The Wine Advocate has gone so far as to say, “thanks in large part to the work of such talented importers as Old Bridge Cellars et all, American consumers have never had such an enormous selection of Australia’s finest as well as rarest wines.”



 

Brokenwood's "Graveyard" vineyard in the Hunter Valley

Australian wineries include Leeuwin Estate from West Australia's Margaret River, John Duvall from South Australia's Barossa Valley, Brokenwood from New South Wales' Hunter Valley, and Innocent Bystander from Victoria's Yarra Valley.

 

With a portfolio is anchored in Australia, Old Bridge also reaches internationally through long standing relationships with vintners in many of the world’s most applauded winemaking regions. Their partners necessarily share a deep commitment to good land stewardship, preserving their independence, and respecting their regional heritage, all the while embracing the international wine world as their quality yardstick.

 

Gavin with some of their International Pinot Noirs

Partnering with Evening Land founder Mark Tarlov, Old Bridge Cellars have launched Maison L'Envoye, a joint venture with a focus on Pinot Noir from Burgundy and Oregon's Willamette Valley.

Maison L'Envoye, 'House of the Messenger', seeks to explore the finest sites dedicated to the cultivation of Pinot Noir. With winemaking footprints in both Burgundy and the Willamette Valley, the project champions many unsung growers who have worked their vineyards over multiple decades and generations. Bringing together a colorful cast, including Burgundy's legendary American adoptee Becky Wasserman and Mark Tarlov, the range includes a Bourgogne Blanc, Bourgogne Rouge, Morgon Cote du Py and Savigny-les-Beaune 'Les Marconnets' 1'er Cr.

 

Beyond Maison L'Envoye's spiritual home of Burgundy, the search for Pinot regions expressing unique terroir also led to Oregon's Willamette Valley. Here, winemaking consultant Louis-Michel Liger-Belair of Vosne-Romanee is united with local winemaking talent Mike Etzel Jr., son of Beaux- Freres founder Mike Etzel. Utilizing a selection of both volcanic and sedimentary influenced vineyards, the team have crafted a pure and unequivocal Willamette Pinot Noir identity with the Two Messengers and The Attache Pinot Noirs.

"We've been eyeing Burgundy for some time, and to now be there as a producer is a very exciting chapter for OBC," said Rob Buono, President, Old Bridge Cellars. "Ultimately, the brand fits in seamlessly with our portfolio; we pride ourselves on representing compelling wines from revered wine regions across the globe."