Friends
At Château Villars, wine is our job as well as our passion. So even when our work is done, we enjoy a glass of wine – preferably somebody else’s wine. Some of the vintners on the following list of favourites are long-time friends, others we have never met. But when the wine is good, we remember !
Château Moulin Haut Laroque
Jean-Noël Hervé, Château Moulin Haut Laroque, Fronsac: A winemaker with his heart and soul and a precious friend (www.moulinhautlaroque.com). The same goes for all the other members of the group called Expression de Fronsac, which represents the finest growths from Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac. We are neighbours and share the same passion of making our noble terroir known to the world – and on top of that, where we could be competitors, we get along great!!!(www.expression-de-fronsac.com )
Christophe Pernet, Champagne Jean Pernet, Champagne Grand Cru
He was the one to give me the Champagne bug 25 years ago. An immensely generous nature, showing through in his wines, he has been my great friend and partner in crime for a very long time! (champagne.pernet)
Christophe Thibert
Christophe Thibert, Domaine Thibert Père & fils, Pouilly Fuissé, Pouilly Vinzelles, Saint-Véran, Mâcon:Wines of great pleasure, very complex and all the while very accessible. (domthibe@wanadoo.fr).
Envers de Bordeaux
And, more in general, all the other friends of the group Envers de Bordeaux, jolly and rebellious and producers of such fine wines as Château Brondelle in the appellation Château Brondelle of Graves, Château Gaillard in Saint-Émilion,Château Haut Guiraud in the Côtes de Bourg, Château La Rame in Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, Château Mancèdre in Pessac-Léognan and Château Mélignan in Blaye en Graves.
Famille Despagne
The Despagne family, Château Tour de Mirambeau, Château Mont-Pérat, Girolate: Very classy wines from the appellations of Bordeaux and Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, unique and always one step ahead. ( www.despagne.fr )
Sono Montenidoli
Elisabetta Fagiuoli & Sergio d’Asej, Montenidoli, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Chianti, Toscana: Their wines give you a taste of their great humanity. (www.montenidoli.com).
Domaine La Madura
Nadia & Cyril Bourgne, Domaine La Madura, Saint Chinian: The taste and charm of the south are showing in these complex wines that are just waiting to be discovered. (www.lamadura.com).
Véronique Barthe
Véronique Barthe, Château La Freynelle, Bordeaux: Her wines have as much energy as she does herself! (www.vbarthe.com)
Fransesco Spadafora
Fransesco Spadafora, Sole dei Padri, Schietto, Don Pietro, Montreale, Alhambra, Incanto: The Prince of Sicily, producer of truly grand wines and a real friend.(www.spadafora.com).
Domaine Gérard Metz
Eric Casimir, Domaine Gérard Metz, Alsace: A vintner from Champagne, expatriated a bit to the east. Generous, dynamic and eclectic, just like his wines. (www.vinsgerardmetz.net) .
Domaine de la Haille
« Je n’ai pas choisi d’être Gersois, j’ai juste eu de la chance », telle est la devise de Jean-Luc Lapeyre ! Et il a raison l’artiste. Un vigneron, des vins et une région à découvrir si vous ne connaissez pas déjà. Si c’est le cas, pas besoin de publicité, vous êtes déjà conquis. Un phénomène !