Such a good year...

Click to enlarge... 

Dear Friends,

2009 is about to be gone and before we know it, 2010 will be there. Not only the year but the vintage since our dear vines will slowly wake up soon to elaborate this coming crush.

And 2009 has been a great year for us. First, our vintage which is definitely now the best among the 3 we had. The rosé will be bottled January 14th and it is just beautiful, with a lot of white fresh fruits aromas like peach. The red Dentelle will be bottle in the Spring. it has both fresh and depth. Mistral 09 needs more time to affine but has the same identity with already complex aromas. At last, "Lunatique" (the new "little" one), will age two years total in old barrels and it already evolves quite well.

2009 has also been a very rewarding year as our vineyard received a Gold Medal in the very respected Paris Wine Fair, a 91 points on Wine Spectator and many other nice reviews that you can list here. And just recently, we have seen that Domaine Rouge-Bleu has been recommended by the Rhone editor of Wine Spectator among the best Southern Rhone wines...I don't know if we deserve it but we will take it and at least we worked hard...

And, finally, 2009 has been the first year you, our dear readers, have been  able to taste and support all our range of wines. Thank you so much for all your kind and positive messages, you have no idea how rewarding this is for us. Please don't hesitate to leave a comment on our wines, it is always nice and learning to have all your feedbacks.

On another subject, Kristi, our kids and I will be in Phoenix 12/26 to present her new book and pour our wines. Don't hesitate to join us at Vincent's Farmers Market

   &   

 Last month, I was not in the desert but in the nordic countries to visit Steen, our Danish ambassador (The Wine Company) for a memorable wine dinner with also my friends Jens and Soren (who has the best Chateauneuf-du-Pape informative website you can think of). If you have friends or family there, I strongly recommend to pay Steen a visit (physically or virtually), he does have some very good wines.

At last, I will be touring the US next Spring (03/08 - 03/21) and will keep you posted about the events organized. Besides the regular stops, the new destinations are DC, NC and IA.

To 2010 now...and there might be some very exciting news soon to come !

Where is my wine ?

Cheers,

Jean-Marc
Domaine Rouge-Bleu

Comments

[The Breeds]

DC!! Yeah, Jean-Marc!! We can't wait...!

[Linda Holt]

Jean-Marc - So excited you will be coming to DC in the spring! And I have friends in NC I must connect you with. Joyeaux Noel et Bonne Annee to you and Kristin, J & M, and safe travels to Arizona.
Love from Linda and Nancy

[Devra Long]

Someday you and Kristin must come to Alabama! Wishing all of you Joyeux Noel!!
Devra

[louis bogue Dunedin,fla.]

My Best wishes to you and the family for the Holidays and beyond and hope you make it back to Florida again, and I am planning on being with you at home next September.

[Katie]

When are you coming to Colorado???

[Carole]

Yeah we would love to have you in Colorado!!

[Kathleen]

We look forward to seeing you in France, but you should come to Connecticut. Joyeux Noel.

[MichaelJay Perlman PhD]

Greetings J-M!
I know first hand how difficult it is to give birth to a label and then sell your wine off-shore! So keep up the good work and hoping the new year portez chance.

MJP/Le Cowboy

[Jens]

Yeah, were's the wine?

Won't be able to make to Phoenix on 26th of December, because we will be celebrating our son, Rohan's birthday here in Copenhagen!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Jens

[Ray La Cour]

Jean-Marc: I have not had the privilege of tasting your wines, but there is always hope. Maybe if you pay a visit to Louisiana one day, I will meet you and Christine. ( I am 81 years old, a student of the French language, enjoying Cinema Verite.)

I cherish the phone call you made to me last year at the time I was attempting to make contacts for you in LA, especially Lafayette and New Orleans. That did not materialize, but you were so grateful and told me that you had your hands full at that time.

Joyeaux Noel et Bonne Annee.

Ray LaCour

[Tim and Lauren Averill]

Surely, you can come to Boston on your way west! We'd love to see you.

[Jennifer in OR]

What an amazing 2009! So many things to be thankful for. Many blessings for peace and joy in the new year!

[Marianne Rankin]

Please let us know when you will be in D.C. as soon as you have the dates, and where you will be. I hope to meet you next spring.

[Andy Newlands]

Hi Jean-Marc,
Good to visit you last August and enjoy your wines. Lunch too! Please do let us hear when you will visit Portland. All the best for the holidays.

[Dave Kapsiak]

Jean-Marc/Kristin-

I will not be able to make it to Arizona, so I wanted to send all of you the happiest of holiday wishes and continued success in 2010. Your wines are a delight and never fail to make me feel that I have a bit of France in my glass.

[Pat Cargill]

Congratulations on the Gold in Paris and inclusion in Among the Best Southern Rhones listing--both well deserved and testament to your vision and efforts. I am delighted to learn you will be in both NC and DC. As I live in Virginia, no doubt I will get to meet you at one of these venues. Best wishes for a healthy, prosperous new year, one which will continue to allow us to participate in la vie francaise through your wines and Kristin's French Word a Day which has been such a delight. I continue to try to learn your beautiful language, but my memory just does not seem to store very much these days! De rien! Joyeux Noel and Bonne Annee a La Famille Espinasse.

[Denise]

Joyeux Noel, mon ami! I am thrilled with your 2009 success, and have no doubt 2010 will also be something special to remember for Domaine Rouge-Bleu. Expansion, peut-etre?

May you, Kristi and the kids enjoy your American holiday in the desert. Just make certain you have some rose with you when you visit the Pacific Northwest in the spring. :)

With fond grape memories -