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1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Monday 11 June 2018

Jo Pithon sells his domaine – Clos des Treilles – to Ivan Massonnat

Isabelle and Jo Pithon @ time of launch of Pithon-Paillé
2009 Salon des Vins de Loire 
Isabelle and Jo are on the right


La Revue du Vin de France reports that Jo Pithon has sold his domaine, which includes the steep sided Clos des Treilles overlooking the River Layon to 46-year-old Ivan Massonnat, a financier who is understood to be devoted fan of Chenin Blanc. 

Jo rescued and replanted the Clos, which is on the north bank of the Layon in the commune of Beaulieu-sur-Layon, with Chenin Blanc and made a number of very fine vintages of dry Chenin from this special site. 

In addition to acquiring Jo and Isabelle's domaine LARVF reports that Massonat has acquired a total of 10 hectares of Quarts de Chaume, which makes him the appellation's largest owner with some 25% of the appellation. This is includes the 0.22 hectares of Quarts de Chaume held by Jo Pithon with the rest bought by Massonnat from Pascal Laffourcade.  

LARVF reports that Massonnat is now looking for someone to run his new domaine for him. 

It is good news that Jo Pithon has sold his domaine, which will allow Jo to retire, and will mean that both the Clos des Treilles will continue and that there is the potential for some very good Quarts de Chaume to be made. 

Read the rest of the LARVF report here.  

 Les Treilles from south bank of Layon

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