Bancroft backs Chateau Montelena

As a sign that the UK retains its thirst for Napa Valley’s big name, big price estates, London-based merchant Bancroft Wines has just taken on the agency for Château Montelena.

Established in 1882, the Calistoga property is one of the oldest in Napa, famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Montelena helped to put Napa on the map when its 1973 Chardonnay was voted top white wine at the now infamous “Judgement of Paris”.

Managing director Neil McAndrew explained this latest move by Bancroft, saying: “The US and California in particular has been an obvious gap in our portfolio which we have been endeavouring to fill for some time but have been waiting for the right fit.”

Nor is this high profile agency simply a question of boosting Bancroft’s reputation in the fine wine market. McAndrew is confident that his core fine wine customer bases are keen and willing to extend their wallets in Napa’s direction.

He explained: “The demand for ‘blue chip’ Napa wines is primarily from our extensive contacts in the premium on-trade plus private investors and collectors who buy mainly classed growth Bordeaux and are looking to diversify their cellars.”

Gabriel Savage, 14.04.2011