Derbès Wines

Owner(s) Billy Derbès, Cécile Lemerle-Derbès
Web site www.derbeswines.com
 
Link to this site
Derbès Wines

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 grew up in the vineyards of Champagne, and has worked at Champagne Bollinger, Schug, and Opus One.

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.

The wines are available on the website.

Reviewed Wines

2006 Derbès Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

13.7% alc., 428 cases, $40. Cécile Lemerle-Derbès is a master winemaker who has made fine wines throughout the world. This wine was sourced from Sweeney and Moore vineyards. Clones 115 and 777. Hand harvested and sorted, de-stemmed, cold soaked for 2 days, inoculated with Burgundy yeasts, total cuvaison 22 days. Barrel aged for 15 months in 50% new French oak. · This is a wine for those that prize subtlety and restraint. Attractive scents of cherry cola, loamy earthy and barnyard. Very tasty demure cherry cola, spice and smoke flavors. Clean, pure and sleek with great delicacy and perfect balance. Reviewed October 1, 2008 ARTICLE »

2006 Derbès Wines Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

13.7% alc., 428 cases, $47. Derbès Wines produces Russian River Valley Pinot Noir purchased from the Moore and Sweeney vineyards. Dijon clones 115 and 777. Barrel aged for 15 months in 50% new French oak. · 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. Reviewed July 7, 2008 ARTICLE »

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