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WORLD WINE CHAMPIONSHIPS AWARD
November 15, 2010
Silver Medal: Derbès 2006 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Highly Recommended
Deep ruby black color. Aromas and flavors of chocolate covered strawberries, orange chiffon, and floral talc with a soft dry-yet-fruity medium body and a tangy, apple, cherry pit, spice and damp earth accented finish.
This competition is intended to highlight the intrinsic qualities of wines from specific geographical areas and to award those wines of outstanding quality and exceptional expression of their appellation or origin. The samples were presented in an anonymous fashion to five judging panels. Each wine tasted was scored individually and not comparatively.
250 samples from 17 countries were judged by women of 21 different nationalities, representing a broad cross-section of the international wine industry: winemaking and vine growing, sales, promotion, marketing, education, communication (media), and trained amateur wine experts.
VINALIES INTERNATIONALES
Paris, Fance
February 26 - March 2, 2010
http://www.vinalies-internationales.com
SILVER MEDAL
2006 Derbès Los Carneros Chardonnay
This prestigious international competition is organized by the Union des Oenologues de France. Promoting the quintessence of terroirs is the aim of the competition. Wines were evaluated by seven-member blind panels of industry professionals, with each wine given a numerical ranking and tasting notes. These notes go into the “1000 Vins du Monde” guide. One hundred experts from around the world judged almost 3500 samples.
AMERICAN FINE WINE COMPETITION
West Palm Beach, Florida
January 17-18, 2010
http://www.americanfinewinecompetition.com
SILVER MEDALS:
2006 Derbès Russian River Charodonnay
2006 Derbès Los Carneros Chardonnay
2006 Derbès Russian River Pinot Noir
This competition is devoted solely to the finest wines produced in the United States.
Wines are entered only through invitation.
"Le dejeuner avec les Mathieu a été tres agreable et, bourguignon de souche et collectionneur de vins haut de gamme , Michel a trouvé que le Pinot noir 2006 Derbès etait remarquable -Il a ajouté qu il soutenait la comparaison avec un " Grands Echezeaux " ( c est un des 31 grands crus de Bourgogne ) On pense que votre amie n en est plus à attendre des louanges d amateurs français puisqu elle a sans doute beaucoup d amateurs locaux , mais si ça peut lui faire plaisir des echos de l Hexagone, transmettez lui nos compliments -
Bon dimanche - A+"
("The lunch with the Mathieu family was very enjoyable and, being a native of Burgundy and high end wine collector, Michel found that the Derbès Pinot Noir 2006 was sublime. He added that it can substain comparison with "Grand Echezeaux." We think that your friend is not to the point of awaiting praises of French amateurs as she may have a lot of those locally, but if it can make her day to hear good news from the Hexagon (France), forward the message to her.")
"I also wanted to tell you that we hosted a dinner with friends last night and we had both the 2006 Russian River chardonnay and the 2006 Pinot Noir. What superb wines you continue to make!! Everyone was very impressed by the elegance, the balance and the depth."
"Thank you again for being a shinning light in a sea of boring wine!!"
EMAIL US YOUR OWN THOUGHTS: cécile@derbeswines.com
SOMMELIER JOURNAL
Pinot Notes: the Russian River Valley surge
Randy Caparoso
Thursday, December 10, 2009
http://randycaparoso.blogspot.com/2009/12/pinot-notes-russian-river-valley-surge.html
THE ONES I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT:
2006 Derbès, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
The product of Champagne, France born winemaker/proprietor Cécile Lemerle-Derbès, this a chubby style of pinot, brimming with strawberry, cherry and licorice spice, with smidgens of toasted oak and burnt leaf peeking out from underneath. Tannin is moderate, so the bright fruit is allowed to brim over the palate, finishing long, lush and easy.
THE PETALUMA POST
The Wine Panel
October 2009
CHARDONNAY!
Amazing! I finally overcame my stubborn reluctance to present Chardonnay as a tasting panel wine. So why did I give in, after 2+ years of the panel? I finally found some that weren't a butter-slathered 2 x 4 style! Enjoy!
2006 Derbès Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
VINOGRAPHY
The Best Pinot Noir in California?: Tasting Pinot Days 2009
June 29, 2009
San Francisco, CA
http://www.vinography.com/archives/2009/06/the_best_pinot_noir_in_califor_1.html
WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 9.5
2004 Derbès Les Pinots, Russian River Valley
WINES SCORING BETWEEN 9 AND 9.5
2006 Derbès Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
GRAPE-NUTZ
AUGUST 24-25, 2008 FAMILY WINEMAKERS OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
6th Annual Trade Tasting
http://www.grape-nutz.com/kenz/08_Aug25.html
Some Favorites:
Derbès 2004 Carneros Chardonnay
30% new oak, tropical fruit and spicy oak with a touch of citrus in the nose, bright acidity and crisp finish. Al noted apple with some tropical notes, some oak but nicely balanced.
VINOGRAPHY
The Best Pinot Noir in California?: Tasting Pinot Days 2008
August 9, 2008
San Francisco, CA
http://www.vinography.com/archives/2008/08/the_best_pinot_noir_in_califor.html
WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 9.5
2006 Derbès Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
2004 Derbès Les Pinots, Russian River Valley
PINOTFILE
The Prince of Pinot
Pinot and the City: Pinot Days 2008
July 7, 2008
"SENSATIONS"
2006 Derbès Wines Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
I have been a fan of Cècile’s wines for a few years, but this is her best effort to date. A prototypical Russian River Pinot Noir showing Bing cherry, red berries, baking spice, and cola in the aromas and flavors. Slippery tannins and a seamless texture. Extremely user-friendly now. One of the top three I tasted at Pinot Days.
Derbès Wines was founded in 2001 by a husband and wife team from diverse backgrounds. Billy Derbès is an aerospace engineer from New Orleans, and Cécile Lemerle-Derbès is a French-born winemaker who has worked at Champagne Bollinger, Schug, and Opus One. Wines are available on the website at www.derbeswines.com. A high-density, hillside, spring-fed vineyard has been planted at the Derbès estate, and plans are afoot to build a winery. The Chardonnays from Double T Ranch in Carneros and Heintz Vineyards in the Russian River Valley are very French styled and quite good. Les Pinots is also offered, an unusual 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
VINOGRAPHY
California's Best Boutique Wines: Tasting Family Winemakers 2007
September 11, 2007
San Francisco, CA
http://www.vinography.com/archives/2007/09/californias_best_boutique_wine_1.html
WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 9.5
2003 Derbès Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
2004 Derbès "Les Pinots", Russian River Valley
WINES SCORING BETWEEN 9 AND 9.5
2003 Derbès Chardonnay, Carneros
VINOGRAPHY
Sonoma's Best Pinot Noir: Tasting at Pinot on The River 2006
October 31, 2006
Santa Rosa, CA
http://www.vinography.com/archives/2006/10/sonomas_best_pinot_noir_tastin.html
WINES SCORING BETWEEN 9 AND 9.5
2004 Derbes "Los Pinots" Pinot Noir/Pinot Meunier Blend
THE WILDER SIDE OF CALIFORNIA
Doug Wilder
Vinfolio
Issue 28
Special Edition: The Top 25 of 2005
St. Helena, CA - December 2, 2005
http://www.vinfolio.com/jsp/public/wine-offers/Wilder%20Side%20-%2028.html
VINTAGE WINE PRODUCTION RATING
2003 Derbès - Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 200 cases VF 95
Issue 22
A bevy of Pinot Noir
St. Helena, CA - October 21, 2005
http://www.vinfolio.com/jsp/public/wine-offers/Wilder%20Side-22-10-21-05.pdf
Is it just me or is the Pinot Noir on the market more delicious than ever? This week alone I’ve tasted about a dozen wines that were sensational but narrowed it down to my top six.
2003 Derbès - Pinot Noir Russian River Valley; Vinfolio rating: 95 points
Cecile Derbes has certainly made me smile lately with her wines. Her 2001 and 2002 Russian River Chardonnays are delicious and have appeared in this column already (93 points and 92 points, $43 each, WSC Issue 2). Another previously released effort from Cecile is Les Pinots, a light bodied wine made from a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The real news here is her premiere release of this fantastic Russian River Pinot Noir.
The nose bursts with gorgeous aromatics of orange-scented spice box, dense cherry and tar. The mouthfeel is seamlessly smooth with a fat richness on the mid-palate continuing with mineral and smoky cherry. This is beautifully balanced wine with a long finish. Drink 2005-2012.
GRAPE-NUTZ
MARCH
29, 2005 FAMILY WINEMAKERS OF CALIFORNIA, PASADENA, CA
6th Annual Trade Tasting
http://www.grape-nutz.com/tastings/fwc05_03.html
Among the "finds" at this tasting ... Derbes with a trio of fantastic Chardonnays:
2001 Derbès Chardonnay - Carneros. Lots of crisp aromas and flavors of lemon and lime accented by touches of pear and apple.
2002 Derbès Chardonnay - Carneros. Similar to the '01 with more of an earthier tone throughout.
2002 Derbès Chardonnay - RRV. Fuller and richer in mouthfeel than the Carneros bottlings, with just a touch of crisp celery and an intriguing "freshness" in the nose.
2002 Derbès "Les Pinots". About a 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir co-fermented with Pinot Meunier brings out a nice fleshiness in nose and mouth. Nice balance through mid-palate, with a touch of sweetness on the finish. Comments: Winemaker Cecile Derbes shows a deft hand with these 'very French' styled Chards. And the Pinot blend is also delightful.
PINOTREPORT
RELEASE DATE: 4/15/05
SMART BUY!
"Light and elegant..."
Derbes Wines
Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Les Pinots 2002
Medium-deep ruby color; earthy, rich, spice and red berry aromas;
spicy, red berry and mineral flavors with
good stucture and balance, lingering finish. A lighter, more
elegant style, this is a really pleasing blend of
Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir from the Derbes family in Russian
River Valley.