The 2010 Cannon Wines Limited catalog has arrived.  View a preview of the catalog here, or in full screen at:

www.cannonwines.com/2010

This year we are proud to welcome the mysterious Vin Noir by Rigal, recounting the legendary Black Wine crafted in Cahors since the 13th century. From Jeanjean, we present Ormarine from the borders of Montpellier; Domaine le Pive Gris from the Camargue; and Castelmaure, crafted in early Jurassic limestone in the heart of Cathar country. Also, following the great success of our rosé selections last year, Gassier en Provence brings new brilliant flavors in Chateau Beaulieu and Clos des 3 Sources rosé. Also in 2010, Ogier honors their founder, Antoine Ogier, with the full-bodied and aromatic palate of Les Caprices d’Antoine, imported to the United States for the first time. Finally, Benvenuto de la Serna brings their eponymous blend of Malbec and Merlot from the farthest reaches of Argentina.

Also new this year is the Cannon Wines Private Label, our collection of wines that tantalize the palate and offer outstanding value. The 2010 Private Label collection is bottled exclusively for the American market, and this month introduces new sparkling wines with distinguished flavors: Montmartre and Veuve Devienne.

Explore their origins in the Catalog and the Portfolio section.

SAN FRANCISCO, California – December 9, 2009 – A previous statement by Cannon Wines Limited, on direct-import agreements for brands with Bronco Wine Company, is no longer valid.

This statement was made in regards to the Heritages, Clos de l’Oratoire and Ventoux brands by Ogier; the Original Malbec brand by Rigal; the Sables d’Azur brand by Gassier; the Château Fonplégade Grand Cru, Château de Candale Château de Bel-Air, Château Lagarosse Château Douley, Château Lagarosse les Comtes, Château Roc de Candale, Château Roylland, and Fleur de Fonplégade Bordeaux wines by Adams French Vineyards.

Cannon Wines Limited will continue to import and market these brands nationally, and regrets the error.

Concurrently, Cannon Wines Limited has announced today an expanded portfolio for 2010, to include additional brands from the Jeanjean Group.  Beginning January 1, 2010, Cannon Wines Limited will begin the import and marketing of wines under the Jeanjean, Cazes, Rigal and Antoine Moueix Bordeaux labels to the United States.  The added brands include:

• Caprice d’Antoine by Ogier.
• Chateau Beaulieu and Clos des 3 Sources Organic, by Gassier.
• Domaine Le Pive, Ormarine Picpoul de Pinet, and Castelmaure Corbieres by Jeanjean.
• Muscat de Rivesaltes, Ambré Rivesaltes, Cuvée Aimé Cazes, Marie Gabrielle Cotes du Roussillon, Ego Cotes du Roussillon Villages, and Alter Cotes du Roussillon Villages by Cazes.
• Bordeaux Red Grande Chapelle, Bordeaux Blanc Grande Chapelle St Emilion, Tertre St Jacques, Medoc La Rose Montenac, Sauternes, Chateau Grand Renom Rouge, Chateau Grand Renom Blanc, Eden de Grand Renom, Chateau Grand Renom Bordeaux Superieur, Antoine Moueix Rouge, Antoine Moueix Blanc, and St Emilion Antoine, by Antoine Moueix.
• Rigal vin Noir, by Rigal.

“Cannon has demonstrated steady growth and consistent management of our brands in the United States market.  We are looking forward to building upon that growth with our brands from Gassier, Jeanjean, Cazes and Mouiex,” said Antoine Leccia, President of Jeanjean Groupe and Chairman of Cannon Wines Limited.  Jeanjean Groupe remains the majority shareholder of Cannon Wines Limited.

The additional brands will join such established brands as Clos de l’Oratoire, Vacqueyras Truffiers and Ventoux by Ogier; Chablis AOC, Premier Cru Chablis and Grand Cru Chablis by Domaine Laroche; the Mil Piedras brand by Benvenuto de la Serna,; and the Valle Perdido brand by Munoz de Toro of Argentina.

“We believe we have found better avenues to serve our suppliers by continuing to directly import and market their products in the United States,” said Laurent Fortin, President & CEO of Cannon Wines Limited.  “We will utilize our current broad, nationwide network of distributors, brokers and sales managers.”

Cannon Wines Limited was founded in 1979 to market both imported and domestic premium wines and spirits in the United States. Today, Cannon Wines represents brands from around the globe, partnering closely with its suppliers to create and market successful brands in the United States.

Press Contacts:
Andrew MacKenzie
Marketing Director
Cannon Wines Limited
andrew.mackenzie@cannonwines.com
(415) 394-6454

Customer & Wholesaler Relations Contacts:
Frank Pallone
East Coast Manager
Cannon Wines Limited
frank.pallone@cannonwines.com
(914) 548-3447

Philippe Chainier
West Coast Manager
Cannon Wines Limited
philippe.chainier@cannonwines.com
(206) 829-9626

Agnes Wong
Vice President of Finance & Administration
Cannon Wines Limited
agnes.wong@cannonwines.com
(415) 394-6454

Supplier & Client Relations Contacts:
Laurent Fortin
President and Chief Executive Officer
Cannon Wines Limited
laurent.fortin@cannonwines.com
(216) 272-2629

Valle Perdido Malbec Reserve 2006 – 91 Points

“The nose of smoke, pencil lead, violets, black cherry, and plum jumps from the glass. Medium- to full-bodied, it has loads of rich fruit, savory, spicy flavors, ripe tannins, good balance, and a pure finish. Give this pleasure-bent Malbec 2-3 years to fully blossom and drink it from 2011 to 2018.”

– Jay Miller
Reviewer, Wine Advocate

Learn more about the origins and technical information of Valle Perdido’s Malbec Reserve in our Portfolio section.

Roc de Châteauvieux Vouvray 2007 has been recognized as a “Best Value” by the Wine Spectator, and has received an 87-point rating. This medium-sweet white wine comes from the renown appellation of Vouvray, situated on the north bank of the Loire River in the heart of the Val de Loire, an area steeped in royal history. Senior Editor James Molesworth adds:

Roc de Châteauvieux Vouvray 2007 87 Points

“A light-weight, crunchy style, with lime and green melon notes backed by lively acidity. Drink now. Best Value.“

– James Molesworth
Senior Editor, Wine Spectator

Naked Earth Rouge, made from organically grown grapes in the South of France, is recognized as a “value priced” and “Best Buy” wine in the November 2009 issue of the Wine Enthusiast. Assistant Tasting Director Lauren Buzzeo comments:

Naked Earth 2007 Organic (Vin de Pays d’Oc)
85 Points

“Organic and value priced, this is an attractive and easy-to-drink Merlot-Grenache blend. Cassis and black berry conquer the palate, with traces of bell pepper, juniper and ceddary spice in the background. Imported by Cannon Wines Limited. Best Buy.“

– Lauren Buzzeo
Assistant Tasting Director, Wine Enthusiast

You can read more about the origins, history and technical information on Naked Earth Rouge 2007 in our Portfolio section.

On the 2007 Rouge, Wine Spectator senior editor James Molesworth commented:

CLOS DE L’ORATOIRE DES PAPES
Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2007

“Ripe and full-bodied, with a juicy core of plum, boysenberry and fig fruit backed by cocoa, espresso and black licorice notes. A nice graphite edge helps lends just enough definition on the finish. A textbook expression of the vintage. Drink now through 2017.”

– James Molesworth
Senior Editor, Wine Spectator

You can read more about the origins, history and technical information on Clos de l’Oratoire 2007 Rouge in our Portfolio section.

Cannon Wines Limited is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with Bronco Wine to take the Naked Earth organic wine brand to the national stage.  Under the new agreement, Bronco Wine will work with hundreds of salespersons across the United States, under its Domaine Napa subsidiary, to promote Naked Earth and the benefits of its organic origins.

“We are pleased with the commitment that Bronco Wine has expressed in spreading Naked Earth’s message of sustainable agriculture,” says Laurent Fortin, CEO and President of Cannon Wines Limited. “We feel that Naked Earth serves as an example that great wine is best made in ecological harmony with the soil.”

Grapes that become Naked Earth Rouge and Blanc originate from the Languedoc region of Southern France, and are certified organic by ECOCERT, the French authority on organic and biodynamic farming.  Their certification assures that every grape is grown in respect to environmentally sound European organic farming standards.  Naked Earth is also 100% recyclable, from the carton to the bottle, label and screw cap.

Bronco Wine Company, producers of nearly 40 wine brands including Charles Shaw Winery, which changed wine drinking habits in America with a $1.99 wine, is owned by the Franzia family which has made wine in California for more than one hundred and ten years.

Cannon Wines Limited was founded in 1979 to market both imported and domestic premium wines and spirits in the United States. Today, Cannon Wines represents brands from around the globe, partnering closely with its suppliers to create and market successful brands in the United States.

Learn more about Naked Earth Rouge and Blanc at www.nakedearthwine.com

As of August 1st, 2009, Cannon Wines Limited is the exclusive importer of Domaine Laroche Chablis wines in the United States.  As is well known, Laroche represents a long history of awarded wines from world-class terroir, including fifth-generation family ownership of vineyards in Chablis.  Laroche Chablis wine brands include the venerable Petite Chablis, St. Martin, Grand Cru Les Clos, Les Blanchots and L’Obedience.

“Premium appellations are in a small, exclusive club – Laroche represents the pinnacle of such an appellation with Chablis.  We are proud to represent it in the United States,” says Laurent Fortin, President & CEO of Cannon Wines Limited.

The Laroche family has produced wines since 1850 in Chablis, one of the world’s most renowned appellations. “It can be said without arrogance that Chablis is an exceptional terroir,” says Michel Laroche, who represents the 5th generation of Domaine Laroche winemakers. The quality of the soil from the kimmeridgian geological layer contains just the right amount of clay to bring the mineral character, and the substratum clay to preserve enough water and finally, a good orientation towards to the sun in a region that seldom suffers from excess heat. All the right conditions are met for the production of great Chardonnay.

Learn more about Domaine Laroche Chablis wines in our Portfolio, and at www.domaine-laroche.com

At Cannon Wines, our ongoing mission is to find wines from every corner of the world that are unique, bold and adventurous, and to introduce those brands to the U.S. market. The PureArgentina! Wines portfolio, a new division of Cannon Wines, represents fine offerings from all corners of Argentina’s diverse wine regions.

Together with John Hsieh, Buenos Aires native and Argentine wine specialist for over a decade, Cannon Wines will import the Mil Piedras (”thousand stones”) Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, and the super-premium Malbec-Merlot reserve blend, posthumously titled Benvenuto de la Serna. Each varietal is crafted by famed winemaker Angel Mendoza at the Benvenuto de la Serna winery in Valle de Uco, Mendoza.

Also included is Valle Perdido (”lost valley”) from the Neuquen frontier of Patagonia. Skilled winemakers Alberto Antonini and Altos Las Hormigas create the premium Cabernet-Merlot, Pinot Noir, Malbec and Malbec Reserve wines from Valle Perdido’s state-of-the-art gravity winery. At a latitude of 39 degrees south, Valle Perdido is one of the southernmost wineries in the world.

The newest line in the portfolio, Argie, will arrive in authentically Argentine Bonarda and Torrontes varietals, created from some of Argentina’s oldest vineyards. The Bonarda originates from Lujan de Cuyo in Mendoza; the Torrontes from Famatina in the high deserts of La Rioja.

Beginning in June, Cannon Wines will bring these flavors to the United States, direct from the families who have nurtured Argentine winemaking at the distant ends of the earth for nearly two centuries.

For more on the new PureArgentina! Wines portfolio, visit www.pureargentinawines.com