Vinum Wine Importing and Distributing, LLC

Chateau Begadanet is within the commune of Begadan for which it is named. It is approximately 3 km from the famed Gironde River and is perfectly placed to grow excellent Bordeaux wines. This classic Red Bordeaux is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with some Cabernet Franc used to help add extra layers and depth. It offers impressively ripe fruit character in a very elegant way. Softer tannins provide a pleasant backbone to this wine. It is an excellent value from an outstanding vintage.

This winery is located in the heart of Saint-Emilion and has been family owned for 4 generations. The cellars of this winery are famous throughout all of Bordeaux; they are located in a former stone quarry. It took 5 years to excavate the 7 hectares of cellars now in use by the winery. They provide the perfect aging and storage conditions for the Cardinal-Villemaurine wines. The 2004 is a blend of 60% Merlot with 40% Cabernet Franc, aged for 24 months in barrel before bottling. The low temperature of the cellars provides a slower aging and helps to maintain the bright core fruit components of the wine.

Chateau Moulin de Mallet is located in the commune of Pujols, just south of Saint-Emilion and Castillon-la-Bataille. The Pujol plain was originally dotted with windmills and the original miller's house is the home of the winery owners. Serge Couderc's family has owned Moulin de Mallet since 1898, and recently has been modernizing the property to create the best environment for quality wine.
The wine itself is a blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. It is richly fruity with smooth tannins which make it an ideal wine for drinking with food and friends.

This small winery in Margaux consists of only 3.5 hectares. The vineyards are mainly gravel and limestone which is perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon. Wines from Margaux are renowned for their structure, fruit concentration and silky texture. This wine is no exception; a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% merlot, 10% Petit Verdot aged for one year in French oak. It is perfect for red meat and lamb dishes.

Chateau Sorbey is the second label of the prestigious Chateau Julien of the Haut-Medoc. Chateau Julien was created by Alain Meyre of Chateau Bibian and Chateau Cap Leon in Listrac. The wines of the Sorbey label are created using the same vineyards as the wines of Chateau Julien. They are blends of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot.
A rich ruby color with notes of red and black fruits and some spice from the oak aging.

For winery & vineyard information, plus tasting & technical notes and accolades, please see: http://www.vignobles-meyre.com/index_us.htm

Domaine de Laballe is situated south of Bordeaux in an area generally used for making Armagnac. Domaine Laballe produces several different wines from this region. The same soils and climate that excel in making excellent Armagnac are also responsible for the great value of the dry wines of this region. The easy drinking blend of native Colombard and Sauvignon Blanc make for a crisp and quaffable wine.

For winery & vineyard information, plus tasting & technical notes and accolades, please see: www.laballe.fr/laballe.html

Five generations, five couples, five eras, five cuvées, but a single passion that continues to be perpetuated from father to son and daughter: the love of Champagne. Evelyne and Christophe are more passionate than ever; from the vines to the cellar they dedicate themselves to creating fine Champagnes.

Boizel is a Negociant Manipulant house;"In Champagne, there have always been two professions: cultivating grapes and making the wine. My parents and grandparents preferred to make the wine well, leaving their friends, the growers, to cultivate good grapes"—Evelyne Roques-Boizel.

In their cellars under the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, frequent tasting and analysis allows Evelyne and Christophe to achieve the harmony and complexity that produce a singular Boizel stamp and style

The Die region of France has been renowned for its famous Clairette since before history began, and out of these traditions a cooperative, called La Cave de Die Jaillance,was formed in 1950. This cooperative flourished under the direction of Henri Bonnet and a few vine growers, who shared common passions for work well done, solidarity and, even then, a concern for nature conservation. Nowadays, this cooperative is known as Jaillance and has shared their knowledge with over two hundred vine growers and nearly another hundred wine producers in Bordeaux, in Vouvray, and in Burgundy to provide several acclaimed noble AOC sparkling wines.

Angludet is one of the oldest properties in the Médoc and its history is one of downfalls and revivals. Angludet takes its name from the knight Bertrand d’Angludet, who was lord of the manor in 1150. In all likelihood, the vineyard, which appears on the Belleyme map of 1785, was there since the beginning of the 17th century.

Located on a broad gravel plateau, known as "Le Grand Poujeau", the Château d'Angludet dominates the lower lands of the Gironde estuary. All the conditions for successful wines come together in this sandy and gravely soil which provides good natural drainage, a factor that enables concentration, great finesse and remarkable elegance in the Angludet wines.

When Benjamin Sichel took charge of wine-making operations 1989, he set a goal to optimize the vines’ natural balance. This aim continues to inspire the never-ending search for the best possible expression of Angludet's extraordinary soil, which produces perfectly balanced wines with a finesse and complexity that only nature can create.

Brother and sister, Julien and Nathalie Meyre, are creating a reputation to be proud of at Château Bibian. The property was purchased in 1999 by the Meyre family from famous soccer player, Jean Tigana. Dating back to 1857, this property is one of the oldest in Listrac. The parcels are scattered around the village of Listrac, mostly on clay-limestone soils but also on pockets of Pyrenees Gravel. The 14 hectares are planted with vines between forty and seventy years old. Winemaking at Château Bibian is a complementary blend of tradition and modern technology. Julien Meyre, the winemaker, is assisted in his efforts by famous wine consultant, Michel Rolland. Quality is of utmost importance; viticulture practices such as green harvesting, and leaf thinning help the Meyre family to achieve results. The Bibian blend is predominantly Merlot with lesser parts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged twelve months in 30% new French oak barriques. SOLD BY VINUM IN WASHINGTON & OREGON
For winery & vineyard information, plus tasting notes, please see: www.chateaubibian.com/chateau-bibian_us.htm

Located in the appellations Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superieur, Château La Gatte was founded in 1646. A mere 358 years later, in 2004, the estate was purchased by Hèléne and Michael Affatato. Hèléne, a Bordeaux native, came from Château Latour, where she held an executive position in Public Relations and Sales. Michael, an advertising executive turned wine afficionado, found the perfect marriage for his skills at Chapoutier, where he directed Sales and Marketing for the UK and American markets. The property sits atop a famous limestone ridge, which is shared by some of St. Emilion’s most noble chateaux. The west facing vines overlook the Dordogne River, and benefit from maximum sunlight. To quote Château Latour, “To make a Grand Vin, the vines must see the river.” After tasting Château La Gatte, we think you will agree that these vines must have an amazing view.

La Caussade is one of the oldest and most renowned estates of the Cotes de Bordeaux. For more than a century, the Armand family has worked in the vineyard of Sainte-Croix du Mont, adjacent to world famous estates such as Chateaux d’Yquem. The chalky soil deriving from fossilized oyster shells, is perfect for enhancing the flavors of Semillion and Sauvignon blanc, particularly in late harvest and noble wine styles. For this reason they make an outstanding wine that competes with any Sauternes. In addition, La Caussade produces an AOC Bordeaux red wine, a blend of Merlot & Cabernet, sourced with estate grown fruit from an adjacent vineyard 45 km southwest of Bordeaux. Yves Armand has made the most of this estate and his wines have all the character of well-known chateaux of the region.

Coming from the same family which owns Château Carbonnieux one of Bordeaux's most acclaimed dry white wines, it is hardly surprising that Philibert Perrin has shown a true talent for making white wine. Close to another celebrated property, Smith Haut-Lafitte, LafontMenaut is at once elegant and rich, with intense minerallyflavours and classic Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc aromas of citrus and exotic fruit.Philibert Perrin has devoted the last 6 years to replanting and exploiting the potential of the extraordinary gravel mounds that make up the vineyard at LafontMenaut. Well situated and well exposed to the sun, the estate covers some 10 hectares of vines and produces red and white Pessac-Léognan wines and is producing excellent wines worthy of representing Pessac Leognan!

The Mayne-Vieil property dates back to the 16th century when it belonged to the De Paty family. Its forty-seven hectares are situated in AOC Fronsac and AOC Bordeaux and a re planted to Merlot and Cabernet Franc. A high density vineyard enables Bertrand Seze and his family to produce elegant wines with excellent concentration of fruit and great balance. Grapes leaves are thing for better maturity and green harvested for concentration and quality. Chateau MayneVieil produces three wines: Chateau Buisson-Redon and Chateau MayneVieil, which are classic Bordeaux blends and Cuvee Alienor, which offers distinctly Fransac-styled wine of full character and elegance.

Château de la Nauve lies 40 km from Bordeaux, in the north east of the Gironde, between the towns of Libourne and Castillon la Bataille. It was taken over by Michel Veyry in 1955, who expanded the vineyard from its original 4ha to 12 ha in 1975. 8ha now lie within the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Appellation. The estate’s twelve hectares enjoy good exposure and are planted predominately to Merlot with 15% Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The soils are sandy-clay and the average age of the vines is 30 years old. Nauve utilizes only hand pruning and harvesting. Chateau de la Nauveproduces very expressive wines that truly reflect La Nauve and Saint Emilion.

Covering only 900 hectares, the tiny appellation of Saint-Julien owes its world famous reputation to the high number of Grands Crus Classés properties nearby, and that in 1855, virtually all vineyards in this region were considered worthy of Classed Growth status. Château du Glana is a marvellous way of getting to know the wines from this region since it lies on the famous D2 ‘Route des Châteaux' that runs alongside the Gironde Estuary, and is situated between the villages of Beychevelle and Saint-Julien, opposite the elegant Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. The meticulous care and attention to detail in the vineyard as well as in the vat house, and the judicious use of traditional and modern wine making, have all contributed to the reputation of Du Glana, which was given Cru Bourgeois Supérieur status in the new classification of 2003.

Maison Sichel has been a family run business since the late 1800's. It has grown to be one of France's premier wine families. Taking pride in every wine they produce, the wines are sure to as different and fantastic as their home.
At the head of a wine patrimony of about 350 hectares, the Sichel family can be proud of its authentic signature of "Propritaire Vinificateur Eleveur", which enables it to have both an original and very complete approach to the production universally.

Dolin Vermouths are notably lighter, drier and less pungent than their larger commercial counterparts. The particular mixture of plants found near Chambery give a fresh, restrained and elegant nose, with a subtle, complex bittersweet palate. Even the Blanc and Rouge retain great balance, with the sugar never cloying, and just enough bitterness to wet the appetite. Each can be enjoyed as aperitif on ice, with a twist of citrus, or on a broad array of traditional cocktails.
Made to the same set of recipes since 1821, Dolin Vermouth de Chambery has long been the benchmark for the fine Vermouth. In the late 19th century, Dolin Vermouth de Chambery won medals in Paris, London, St. Louis and Philadelphia and in 1932 earned Chambery FranceÕs only Appellation dÕOrigine for Vermouth.

This 45 hectare property in the Entre-deux-Mers region was purchased by Maison Sichel in 2002. Maison Sichel embarked on an ambitious restoration program which expanded and restructured the vineyard and cellars. It now ranks as one of the top Bordeaux Superieur wines on the market. The vineyards themselves are located on one of the highest hills in Entre-Deux-Mers, and are thus well drained and receive excellent sun exposure critical for ripening grapes. The wines are aged in 30% new French oak barrels for 14 months before bottling.

For winery & vineyard information, plus tasting & technical notes and accolades, please see: http://www.sichel.fr/popupproduit.php?id=8

With a lifetime in winemaking, Eric Fabre's career includes eight years as Technical Director of Château Lafite Rothschild, as well as taking a much lesser known Médoc label to the highest accolades in only 6 years.

It was however, a lifelong dream to own a vineyard on the Mediterranean, so in 2001 Eric and his wife Christine went hunting from Perpignan to Nîmes for high quality terroir. They were quickly seduced by the Château d'Anglès, and what a very understandable temptation!

The grapes are picked by hand and carefully sorted. Production and bottling take place on the estate where traditional winemaking and modern techniques work together in harmony.

Domaine de La Brillane was built from the ground up by Rupert Birch and Mary Mertens, 2 people who have a strong passion for wine. The vineyard is located 7km north of Aix en Provence, within the appellation of Coteaux d'Aix en Provence, where wine has been made since the Romans.

Domaine de La Brillane is set at an altitude of 400 meters, on the slopes of a small range of hills Ð the Trevaresse. Facing predominantly south-south east, the prevailing wind is nonetheless the mistral, wile difficult to work during, nonetheless dries out the vines after the rains and thereby helps to reduce the incidence of disease in the vineyard.

The vineyard is run on an organic basis, with the belief that you don't need to add synthetic substances to your soil, and can achieve the desired end result of clean healthy vines by means of a little elbow-grease.

The end result are beautiful wines that reflect the love and attention to what Rupert and Mary have put into their vineyard and their passion.

H & B is a young négociant-éleveur run by Grégory Hecht and François Bannier based in Bouzigues on the north shore of the Bassin de Thau. Having met at Dijon University in 1993, they decided to join forces to buy, assemble and age complementary wines from the very best growers to create fine wines that truly express the given terroir.

They produce exclusively red AOC wines from the Languedoc and Roussillon areas. From one vintage to another, the range is coherent, easily identifiable and of consistent high quality.

Their wines are brought in in bulk, as soon as possible, from the various producers. The core of their business is maturing of the wines, each of which is given specialized treatment according to its particular characteristics. They are even developing a specific barrel size for the Languedoc-Roussillon area.

This dynamic duo is an excellent example of the exciting progress and limitless potential of the Languedoc and Roussillon.

Domaine de Pellehaut is situated at the highest point in the district of Montréal du Gers (180 Metres) and today covers five-hundred-and-thirty hectares of which one-hundred-and-eighty hectares are vines.

It is a traditional farming estate run by Gaston Béraut and his sons, Martin and Mathieu. The vines are situated on the slopes, with the low land being reserved for cattle and cereal crops.

Domaine de Pellehaut has been owned and managed by successive generations of the Béraut family for over 300 years. Today, the wines made with passion and dedication by Mathieu and Martin Béraut win systematic praise from the trade and press in France and throughout the world. Pellehaut Harmonie de Gascogne red is remarkably balanced, showing intense fruit flavours married with toasty oak. Very approachable, easy-drinking but with lots of class and depth.

Château de la Selve, in the southern Côtes de Ardeche, was bought in 1990 by the Chazallon family from the Northern Rhône. The Chazallons farm organically and their thirty-four hectare estate is planted to Syrah, Cabernet, Merlot, Grenache, Cinsault and Viogner. Some plots are more than 40 years old and the soil is composed of chalk and clay.

Their first vintage was welcomed in 2002 by son, and winemaker, Benoit who has worked at famous properties such as Do in Burgundy and Jaboulet in the Rhône.

Château de la Selve offers four red wines: two Vins de Garde which are more full bodied, structured and complex and two Vin de Copain which are more fruit driven.

Resting at the foot of the famous Heritage hillside, the Cave de Tain l'Hermitage produces and sells 5 appellation controlee wines.

Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, St-Joseph, Cornas, and St-Peray.

The volume of these five wines vinified by the Cave de Tain l'Hermitage represents almost half of the total volume of all northern Rhone AOC wines produced. The Cave also produces single varietal vin de pays wines from Syrah and Marsanne grapes grown on the outskirts of the appelleation areas in the northern Rhone hills.

The wines of the Cave de Tain l'Hermitage are recognized for their quality. The objective of the Cave is to provide wine lovers around the world with authentic wines which bear the full character of their indivdual "terroir", bringing out the best through careful and non-intrusive vinification methods.

In this highly traditional vineyard, successive generations have contributed to the growth and development of the winery by producing grapes of a quality they strive to constantly improve.

The winemakers are involved in every stage of vinification, from the grape reception all the way up to the bottling. The cellar team makes every effort to respect the inherent characteristics of each vintage, to ensure a harmonious and natural finished product.

On this family estate, established in 1947, the Brusset family has managed to combine the "savoir faire" of traditional winemaking with the newest techniques introduced by each generation. The founder, Andre Brusset (1910-1911), his son Daniel, and his grandson Laurent: three wine-growers and wine-makers with a variety of experiences have all contributed to the distinctive character of the Domaine Brusset, where three complementary generations together have achieved the best results.

Elizabeth Hall and her husband, Andrew, make up the sixth generation at Domaine des Bernardins located on the edge of Beaumes de Venise.

The twenty-two hectares of vineyards are planted with fifteen hectares of Muscat and seven hectares of Syrah and Cinsault for Côtes du Rhône rouge production.

The Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise is characterized by its full bodied, silky texture and flavors of orange custard, toffee and orange peel.

Domaine de Calet is located in the Rhône valley on the sunny border between Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon. After living thirty years in Sweden, Yvon Gentes returned to his home town with wife, Anna-Lena, and is driven to produce excellent wines.

Respect for the environment shines throughout the wine-making process, from the grape harvest to bottling. Regular analyses of the soil and vines guarantee premium conditions.

These incredible wines find their character deep in the pebble rich soil. The round, polished pebbles catch the rays of the sun and tradition claims that they are indeed the winery's very namesake as calet comes from the word "galet", French for pebble.

Domaines de Lauribert has been in the Sourdon family for the last five generations. The fifty-four hectare estate is located on the Papal Enclave in Visan and Valréas and is planted predominantly to Grenache with lesser parts Syrah, Carignan and Cinsault. 75% of the estates production is Côte du Rhône Villages and the remainder is Côte du Rhône wine.

Until 1997, the wines of the Lauribert estate were vinified at the local cooperative cellar. When Laurent Sourdon took over the domain, he decided that it was time to produce and bottle wine under the name Lauribert. The name Lauribert is composed from letters of the family members' names : LAUrent, MaRIE and RoBERT.

The Sourdon family consistently produces excellent value wines that posses all the hallmark character and flavor that Rhône is so well known for

Chateau LA BORIE is located on the left bank of the Rhone, between Saint Paul les Trois Chateaux, and Suze-la-Rousse. Chateau La Borie's wines are classified as Cotes du Rhone and Cotes du Rhone Villages. The estate is situated in the southern Rhone valley of Provence, where “French” winemaking was started at the time of Roman Empire. In their specific vineyard area, Drome Provençale, very few vineyard estates have the right to be called a Chateau, which obliges them to produce wine of only the highest quality. Their wines have been exported for many years worldwide, representing these distinct vineyards of the Rhone valley.

Ampelidae was founded by Frédéric Brochet in 1995. This unique winery is set up in the small village of Marigny-Brizay near Poitiers in western France.

Marrying the genius of modernity and the talent of tradition, Frédéric and his team produce two lines: Marigney-Neuf and their super-premium wine, Ampelidae. The name “Ampelidae” is inspired by the Greek word Ampelos which means vine.

All Ampelidae wines are farmed and produced organically. With the belief that great wine starts in the vineyard, Frédéric produces a range of expressive and one-of-a-kind single varietal and sparkling wines.

Ampelidae was founded by Frédéric Brochet in 1995. This unique winery is set up in the small village of Marigny-Brizay near Poitiers in western France.

Marrying the genius of modernity and the talent of tradition, Frédéric and his team produce two lines: Marigney-Neuf and their super-premium wine, Ampelidae. The name “Ampelidae” is inspired by the Greek word Ampelos which means vine.

All Ampelidae wines are farmed and produced organically. With the belief that great wine starts in the vineyard, Frédéric produces a range of expressive and one-of-a-kind single varietal and sparkling wines.

This twenty hectare vineyard is located in the heart of Cognac and Pineau des Charentes 'Fin Bois' on the limestone slopes near the Gironde estuary, fifty kilometers north of Bordeaux.

Owned by Yvan Meyer, Maison Sichel's Technical Director, Château d'Orignac has won accolades in France and throughout the world.

This family-run estate has always been devoted to producing high quality products.

The Pineau des Charentes is made with two-thirds grape must from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with one-third Cognac and takes almost 10 years to produce. The result is a wine of great intensity with a complex nose of peaches, apricots, honey, almonds and Cognac and an unforgettably smooth texture on the palate.

Domaine des Quarres is located in the heart of the Layon, steeped region of the Anjou. It covers the left side of the river Layon on the Rablay side table-land, and the right, Faye, where its famous hillsides in terracesis located, picturesque site of the Domaine des Quarres.

The long history of the winery spans 5 decades. 1949, Alfred Bidet created the estate. From 1968-1973, he realized his big project: plantation in terraces of the hill overlooking the river Layon; "La Magdelaine" and "Le Clos des Cocus" in order to produce the finest Coteaux du Layon.

1986, when Alfred stopped, Sylvaine Bidet and Luc Arenou came back to the vineyard to develop the commercial side of business, improve the quality of the wines cultivating the vines with the passion of the siols. Each reserve corresponds to a distinct "terroir".

Since 2008, Veronique Gourdon and Cedric Aubert continue this adventure, looking for developing the Domaine des Quarres, vineyard Ð bed and breakfast Ð reception.

These award winning wines will be sure to please any palette.

Claude LaFond is probably the most well known owner/winemaker of Reuilly, a little village to the west of Bourges.
Claude LaFond, as the leading producer of Reuilly, produces delightful, crisp balanced whites that really express the character of this small appellation. The 2005 Reuily "Clos Fussay" Tete de cuvee suggests bright citrus aroma with scents of grapefruit, white blossom and earthy notes. The palate, along with zesty mineral flavors, offers excellent acidity, balance and very good depth. The finish is quite intense and persistent.

P. Ferraud & Fils estate properties are located in the Beaujolais and the Maconnais and Jean-Michel and Yves-Dominique Ferraud represent the fifth generation of their family involved in wine. The wines from these estates comprise 12 appellations: BEAUJOLAIS, BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES, SAINT-AMOUR, JULIENAS, CHENAS, MOULIN A VENT, FLEURIE, CHIROUBLES, MORGON, REGNIE, COTE DE BROUILLY, EtBROUILLY. Red wines utilize primarily Gamayas expected for red Beaujolais appellations, and their Beaujolais and Maconnais whites are made exclusively with Chardonnay. P. Ferraud & Fils has received wide acclaim for their wines and placed in some of the best restaurants in France and the world!

Paul Ginglinger Egusheim, Haut-Rhin Winemaking at Paul Ginglinger is truly a family affair. For thirteen generations, Le Domaine Paul Ginglinger has been growing grapes and producing wine in the village of Egusheim with the utmost loyalty to Alsace tradition. The new generation at Ginglinger comes in the form of two brothers, Michel and Jean-Francois: Jean-Francois is a PhD student of plant molecular biology in Strasbourg and his brother Michel is the winemaker. Eguisheim, an off-shoot of Colmar, is located in the Haut-Rhin and is known as the “cradle of Alsatian winemaking.” Sustainable viticultural practices are used, all grapes are hand-harvested and the wine is made in the basement of a house that the family has lived in since 1704. Paul Ginglinger produces a full range of wines; sparkling, Vin d’Alsace, Grand Cru, Seleccion de Grains Nobles and Vendages Tardives.

Schoenheitz Wihr-au-Val, Haut-Rhin The Schoenheitz wines are much the same as Henri and Dominique. The expression of their life is in the bottle; a wonderful blend of cosmopolitan elegance and historic driven heartiness. Located at the northern end of Alsace, Wihr-au-Val, where the Alsatian hills meet the Voseges Mountains, this family operated estate is the only independent producer in the village. Schoenheitz grapes grow on extremely steep hillsides. These slopes, often too steep for mechanical assistance, are bathed in the warm southern sun. Renowned since the Middle Ages, successive twentieth century wars threatened to destroy the vineyards. Dominique and Henri have continued the reconstruction begun by Henri Schoenheitz Sr. in the 1970s. The Schoenheitz family’s hard work and passion for winemaking have successfully restored the reputation of the Wihr-au-Val, earning them the title of Best Vintner, 1995.