Leroy I didn't know existed

L

Levi Dalton

Levi Dalton
Madame Leroy apparently has some sort of agreement with one of the major department store chains here in Japan (Takashimaya) because they have boatloads of her wines, in at least two instances (Nihonbashi and Yokohama station) that I have visited. The Nihonbashi store even had a book length interview with Madame Leroy on sale near the wines. Anyway, here are wines I never knew existed: Maison Leroy Beaujolais-Villages, Maison Leroy Beaujolais "Premier" (I expect it to be something like Noveau), Maison Leroy Gigondas, Maison Leroy Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Aligote. Anyway, I didn't want to shell out the around $75 for the Aligote or I would let you know how it is. Nor is it likely that I will know firsthand what a Leroy Rhone production tastes like. But maybe someone else here does. Anyway, I was so shocked to see some of these bottles that I thought I would share some of that amazement. Of course, vintages with some age were available: '98 Bourgogne Rouge and '00 Bourgogne Blanc were both in Yokohama station.

Maybe someone else knows more?
 
originally posted by Levi Dalton:
Of course, vintages with some age were available: '98 Bourgogne Rouge and '00 Bourgogne Blanc were both in Yokohama station.
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She tends to release Bourgognes at unpredictable times. The '97 white was recently selling in Paris (and the bottle I had I found over the hill, a waste of ).
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
She's got quite a biz going.

So why does Takashimaya on 5th withhold these wonders from us?
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Nor, so far as I know, do they offer the Made to Measure kimono service on 5th, while it was firing on all cylinders in Nihonbashi. So was the Berluti mini-shop inside the store. Nor does 5th Ave. offer, as is the rule over here, the extensive, copious, wonderous amount of food stuffs and sweets on the entry floor.

Robuchon has a cafe in the Nihonbashi Takashimaya.
 
originally posted by Levi Dalton:

Nor, so far as I know, do they offer the Made to Measure kimono service on 5th, while it was firing on all cylinders in Nihonbashi.
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I can't wait for your return.

"Levi Dalton stars as James Bond in the remake of 'You Only Live Twice.'"
BondKimono.jpg
 
I believe she has Japanese investors. I did not know about the Rhne wines, and I suspect that is solely for the Japanese market and possibly she has nothing to do with it, other than letting them slap the Leroy name on the bottles.
 
Well, 21 years later, the news seems to be percolating down...

Lalou Bize-Leroy sold one third of her 'maison' (then on the verge of becoming an important 'domaine' and therefore in need of serious cash to buy the Charles Nollat vineyards and wine stock) to Takashimaya - her Japanese importer - back in 1988.

For Spanish speakers: elmundovino.elmundo.es/elmundovino/noticia.html?vi_seccion=5&vs_fecha=200304&vs_noticia=1049396866.
 
Today I happened across some Domaine Ramonet Passetoutgrains and Domaine Ramonet Aligote. I also found out that Heymann-Lowenstein has a Japanese importer/retailer. And there was also some Green Spot Irish whiskey available at a shop I saw.

I'm sure Victor has some two decade old tasting notes he could share with us about these.
 
I also found out that Heymann-Lowenstein has a Japanese importer/retailer.
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Japan is typically the third- or fourth-largest market for many of the top German winemakers (by euros/yen, not number of bottles), ahead of the UK. At least that's what Hanno Zilliken and Nik Weis told me. I would presume, given the stamp of approval for Overnoy, that somewhat leftfield brand names like H-L would definitely have a large following.
 
originally posted by Yixin:
I also found out that Heymann-Lowenstein has a Japanese importer/retailer.
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Japan is typically the third- or fourth-largest market for many of the top German winemakers (by euros/yen, not number of bottles), ahead of the UK. At least that's what Hanno Zilliken and Nik Weis told me. I would presume, given the stamp of approval for Overnoy, that somewhat leftfield brand names like H-L would definitely have a large following.
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Ahh, the beauty of the transitive property.
 
originally posted by Levi Dalton:
I'm sure Victor has some two decade old tasting notes he could share with us about these.
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Hah, hah. Is it really so irritating to be given some basic info about Leroy's history?
 
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