Famous Wine Negociants
Montesquieu's Expertise in Wine
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Montesquieu draws on a 400-year history in the art and appreciation of winemaking.
The folks at Montesquieu espouse a philosophy that treats the creation of wine as an art form, and fine wines as works by master artists, each with their own unique history, character, and expression.
Montesquieu prides itself on searching the world for small production, high-quality wineries that that stand out from the crowd by producing wines that successfully capture the spirit of their terroir, meaning the wine exhibits the character of the land from which it came. These individualized qualities mean that the wines stand out as unique examples of their type and region, and that they taste distinctly different from one another.
Montesquieu is expert at finding these rare gems at their point of origin, at wineries steeped in the tradition of winemaking, and procuring them through their buyers for the exclusive enjoyment of their clients.
Montesquieu's methods of researching and locating the perfect wines to import to the United States require knowledge and expertise, which Montesquieu’s and tasters, buyers, and brokers all possess.
At Montesquieu, the focus is on quality and individuality, rather than production size and price, and that focus can be tasted whenever a bottle of Montesquieu wine is opened.
Montesquieu expertly handpicks each variety ensure the most enjoyable drinking experience. Montesquieu’s handcrafted wines exemplify the passion of the winemaker, and their goal is to provide wines that best embody the winemaker's vision and the vineyard’s terroir.
Montesquieu's coterie of wine experts serves to ensure that Montesquieu is consistently able to procure and deliver unique and exceptional wines.
Montesquieu’s tasting panel typically samples over a hundred wines every month, and frequently selects just one wine from that group of contenders to include in their collection.
In addition to a thorough knowledge of wine types, region, domain, and terroir, Montesquieu’s experts all possess refined and discerning palates.
Montesquieu is an expert wine négociant committed to providing richly varied wines of the best quality. In addition to their expert knowledge of the wine industry, their discerning tastes, and their high standards, Montesquieu pools their array of talent and experience to provide the finest, most individualistic, wines of the world.
As wine is an expression of the land from which it came, and of the loving hand of the winemaker who crafted it, it is crucial that good wine successfully captures and represents the essence of the vineyard that produced it.
Montesquieu handpicks exclusive and hard to find wines from small
wineries around the world. When opening a bottle of Montesquieu’s carefully chosen wines, one releases not just the wine's aromas and aromatics, but the artistic passion and love of the winemaker.
All of Montesquieu’s wines capture the subtle nuances and rich characteristics of the fine boutiques they have come from, as well as the incredible people and cultures that have created them.
Montesquieu never represents wines that are mass-produced and which can be easily located at the corner wine merchant.
Montesquieu specializes in representing boutique wineries that are often family owned and frequently produce fewer than 1,000 cases of wine. On some occasions, when the wine truly captures the vision of the winemaker and asserts the unique terroir of the vineyard or region, they procure fewer than 100 cases.
Montesquieu buyers know that not all small production wines are delicious, so they strive to select wines that offer not only magnificent flavor, balance, and character, they seek wines that are both unmarred by corporate ownership and of rare quality.
Because they are so selective about what wines they will represent, they sample wines from all over the world offer the smoothest and finest varietals.
A truly exceptional wine offers a perfect balance of fruit and acidy coupled with a full body and ample weight. Montesquieu consistently seeks out and procures wines with full of vibrant flavors and intense acidity that enhance its mouthfeel.
All of our wines personify their perfect blend of flavors and depth. Montesquieu's wines are pleasant and easy to enjoy, leaving you both refreshed and satisfied.
Montesquieu’s Esteemed Tasting Panel:
Simon Blanchard
Native of the Loire Valley region, Simon Blanchard pursued a B.S. in Biology at LaRochelle University until 1998 before earning his Oenology degree at the University of Bordeaux.
His first experience was in 2000 working at the famous classified growth Chateau in Graves - Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion.
Following this, he accepted the position of Cellar Master at Chateau La Tour Carne, a classified growth Médoc, followed by Chateau Reignac - one of the up and coming stars of the Bordeaux region.
In 2004 he joined the consulting team for Stéphane Derénoncourt where he acquired a sharp viticultural background and an innovative approach to vinification.
Julien Lavenu
Originally from an agricultural background in Normandy, Julien studied chemistry at the University of Caen (Master's Degree) and, in 1998, enthusiastically enrolled at the Faculty of Oenology at the University of Bordeaux.
His degree led to his work on the 1999 vinification at the Count Stephan Von Neipperg's estates of Château Canon La Gaffelière, La Mondotte, among others, as a trainee. There, he met Stéphane Derénoncourt, who soon became his mentor.
In 2000, Stéphane offered Julien a job in his consulting company, where he learned how to understand a vineyard, implemented upfront techniques, which enabled a higher degree of accuracy and he eventually acquired a true vigneron's state of mind.
Helene Mingot
Steeped in viticulture, oenology and the wider agro-industrial processes, Ms. Mingot earned a Master of Science degree at the School of Agriculture in Angers, Loire Valley, with a Vine and Wine major. Following these studies, Helene spent a year in Bordeaux working in a lab, testing new strains of yeast for wines and conducting research.
Preferring winemaking to wine research, she set her sights on winemaking and became one of only two people selected from the science arena to attend the Agronomy National School of Toulouse, where she received the French National Diploma of Oenology.
She then became a cellar master in Bordeaux, making wines such as Sauternes, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet blends for various Chateaux. Later, she spent 4 to 5 years in Italy, where she expanded her knowledge while working as a winemaker at a Chianti Classico estate.
Helene will now be working directly with Stéphane Derénoncourt in Napa Valley; an opportunity for which she admits she is extremely excited.
Frederic Massie
Born and raised in Bordeaux, Frederic Massie attended the School of Oenology at Bordeaux University in 1999 and earned his Master of Wine Estates Management in 2001.
He has worked in the cellars of large Bordeaux négociants such as Ginestet as well as participated in the vinification of the ultra prestigious First Growth of Chateau LaFite Rothschild in Pauillac during the unforgettable 2000 vintage.
In 2002, he joined Stéphane Derénoncourt’s team and became involved in the vinification process at Domaine de l'A.
In addition to being a consultant for the various chateaux, he has a key function, acting as the interface between the winegrowers and the merchants.
Delphine Pierre
After earning her B.A. in Languages, Delphine Pierre worked for a Bordeaux based négociant house where she was in charge of developing Eastern European markets. From 1995 to 2000, Delphine worked sourcing and selecting wine for a fine wine and trading firm.
Passionate about wine and winemaking, and eager to specialize in production, she enrolled in the Bordeaux School of Vineculture and Oenology, where she met Stéphane Derénoncourt, who at that time supervised her training.
Delphine is currently working with Vignerons Consultants and is responsible for the technical follow up of several Bordeaux estates located in the diverse terroirs of Saint-Emillion, Médoc, and Pessac-Leogan.
Stéphane Derénoncourt
is a legendary wine consultant and taster based in the Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere in the Bordeaux region of southern France.
Stéphane Derénoncourt is known for his excellent tasting abilities, and his commitment to winemaking principles and philosophies that make him a bit of a rebel and a standout in the wine industry.
He was one of the first winemakers in Saint-Emilion to bring biodynamic principles to the vineyards, to bring back the use wooden vats, the use of open vats, to age the wine on the lees, and to use micro-bullage. Today, his methods have caught on and nearly everyone employs these practices.
Among Stéphane Derénoncourt’s many consulting assignments, he has chosen to work as a member of the prestigious panel of tasters for Montesquieu Wines.