Press Releases
Lyeth Unveils New "L De Lyeth" Wines
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 22nd, 2003 - Lyeth will extend its portfolio next month to include two wines under a new label called "L de Lyeth." The line will feature a 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2001 Merlot, both from Sonoma County.
When the winery was founded by Chip Lyeth in 1981, it was one of the first in California to begin exploring the unique complexity achieved by the marriage of Cabernet Sauvignon with the other major Bordeaux varieties, now known as Meritage. While today there are many producers of award-winning wines in this category, Lyeth remains one of the few which continues to offer them at an affordable price. This value-oriented philosophy will carry over to the new L de Lyeth wines, which will retail between $10-13 per bottle depending on the market.
"We are really happy with the quality we've been able to achieve with these wines," explained Bill Arbios, who has been Lyeth's head winemaker since its inception. "To be competitive in today's market, you have to overdeliver. We're confident that these wines will exceed our customers' expectations just as the Meritage has for years."
The Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were chosen because they are the two most important components used in creating the Meritage blends upon which Lyeth has built its success. The L de Lyeth wines will allow Lyeth to showcase these varietals in a way that reveals the individual qualities contributed by each: structure and tannins from the Cabernet Sauvignon, and a smooth texture with lush, plummy flavors from the Merlot.
The new wines will feature octagonal-shaped labels that recall those originally used for its Bordeaux-style blends in the 1980s and early 1990s. The Red Meritage, White Meritage and Red Reserve will still be offered in silkscreened bottles.
Lyeth is part of the Burgundy-based "Boisset La Famille des Grands Vins," whose US portfolio includes Joliesse (California), J. Moreau & Fils (Chablis), Bouchard Aîné & Fils, Domaine de la Vougeraie (Burgundy), Charles de Fère (Sparkling), Louis Bernard (Rhône Valley), and Méditéo (Pays d'Oc).
