Montesquieu’s Esteemed Panel of Tasters

Simon Blanchard

Simon Blanchard was born in the Loire Valley region. He studied Biology at LaRochelle University until 1998 before earning his Oenology degree at the University of Bordeaux.

Mr. Blanchard gained his first winemaking experience in 2000 when he worked at the Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion, the most famous classified growth Chateau in Graves.

He then took up an invitation to work as Cellar Master at Chateau La Tour Carne, a classified growth Médoc, and later at Chateau Reignac, one of the rising stars of the Bordeaux region.

In 2004 he went to work as part of the Stéphane Derénoncourt consulting team, where he honed his viticultural knowledge to a fine edge and learned from one of the more bold and innovative winemakers.

Stéphane Derénoncourt is a legendary wine consultant and taster based in the Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere in the Bordeaux region of southern France.

Stéphane Derénoncourt is known for his refined tasting abilities, and his commitment to winemaking principles and philosophies that contribute to his reputation as an esteemed and proud rebel within the wine industry.

He was one of the first winemakers in Saint-Emilion to bring biodynamic principles to the vineyards, to bring back the use wooden vats, the use of open vats, to age the wine on the lees, and to use micro-bullage. Today, his methods have caught on and these practices have come back into vogue.

As part of Stéphane Derénoncourt’s consulting work for highly esteemed wineries, he has chosen offer his services to the prestigious panel of tasters for Montesquieu Wines.

Julien Lavenu

Julien Lavenu hails from an agricultural family in Normandy. He earned his Master's Degree in chemistry from the University of Caen and, in 1998, happily began a course of study at the Faculty of Oenology at the University of Bordeaux.

After graduating, he began to work as a trainee with Count Stephan Von Neipperg on the 1999 vinification of the estates of Château Canon La Gaffelière, La Mondotte, among others. There, he met Stéphane Derénoncourt, who soon became his mentor.

In 2000, Julien accepted an offer to work in the consulting company of Stéphane Derénoncourt, where learned the art and craft of tending a vineyard, implemented upfront techniques to enable a higher degree of accuracy, and the cultivation of a true vigneron's state of mind.

Helene Mingot

Helene Mingot’s history is rich in oenology and the greater agro-industrial processes. Ms. Mingot holds a Master of Science degree from the School of Agriculture in Angers, Loire Valley, with an emphasis in Vine and Wine. Following her graduate studies, Helene spent a year in the lab in Bordeaux, testing new strains of yeast for wines and conducting wine-related research.

Preferring to make wine rather than research it, Ms. Mingot was one of two people chosen from the scientific background to study at the Agronomy National School of Toulouse.

Upon earning her French National Diploma of Oenology, she began work as a cellar master in Bordeaux, crafting wines such as Sauternes, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet blends for various Chateaux.

After cutting her teeth in Bordeaux, she went to work in Italy as winemaker at a Chianti Classico estate. She worked in Italy for 4 to 5 years, gaining precious experience and expanding her knowledge and winemaking skills.

Ms. Mingot has now accepted an invitation to come to Napa Valley and work directly with Stéphane Derénoncourt.

Frederic Massie

Born and raised in Bordeaux,

Frederic Massie was born in Bordeaux and grew up there. In 2001, he graduated from the School of Oenology at Bordeaux University with his Master of Wine Estates Management.

Upon graduation, he began to work in the cellars of large Bordeaux négociants such as Ginestet , in addition to contributing his efforts to the vinification of the ultra prestigious First Growth of Chateau Lafite Rothschild in Pauillac during the memorable 2000 vintage.

In 2002, he accepted an offer to work on the team of Stéphane Derénoncourt.
It was there that he began to make contributions toward the vinification process at Domaine de l'A.

In addition to serving a consultant for the various chateaux, he serves a key function in working as a liaison between the winegrowers and the merchants.

Delphine Pierre

After completing her studies in Languages, and taking her B.A. degree, Delphine Pierre took a position developing Eastern European markets for a Bordeaux négociant house. From 1995 to 2000, Delphine sourced and selected wines for a fine wine and trading firm.

Passionate about wine and winemaking, and eager to learn the art of winemaking, she enrolled in the Bordeaux School of Vineculture and Oenology, where she met Stéphane Derénoncourt, who at that time supervised her training.

Delphine is currently working with Vignerons Consultants and is responsible for the technical follow up of several Bordeaux estates located in the diverse terroirs of Saint-Emillion, Médoc, and Pessac-Leogan.