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Meet the Cru

Gordon Hall, Chairman
Gordon originally trained as an accountant … but then he recovered and became a wine merchant!   He experienced a true ‘baptism by fire’ during his training in Bordeaux, tasting from the barrel before breakfast and refining his palate while blind-tasting with some of the great masters there.  His passion for wine and thirst for knowledge means that he travels regularly to visit our growers in Europe, many of whom have become firm friends as well as loyal suppliers. 
Favourite Wine: His desert island wine would be 1982 Château Lafleur but, back in the real world, his current favourites include the stunning Condieu Guigal 2010, the delightful Château La Verrerie Provençale Rosé 2012 and the exciting Young Vines Pinot Noir 2011 from 7 Springs Vineyard in South Africa.  Ideally these would be enjoyed while watching Formula One on a big screen …

Jerome Lambert, Managing Director
Born and raised in Lyon, Southern France, Jerome is the driving force behind the trade arm of our business. With a back ground in the hospitality industry, having worked in restaurants in France, the US and UK in many roles from manager to chef, he has the knowledge of what is needed to make the wine side of any restaurant successful. Jerome, like most Frenchmen, is a great lover of good food and great wine. 
Favourite Wine: Minervois Rouge, Château Millegrand

Mat Briggs, Community Development Manager
Originally from Chichester in West Sussex, Mat is our Community Development Manager. With a background originally in restaurants Mat has worked with or around wine for most of his adult life. A keen lover of dessert wines he can always offer excellent advice on which wine will complement a particular dessert. Also a lover of the theatre Mat can sometimes be seen “treading the boards” in a production at the Sewell Barn Theatre in Norwich. 
Favourite Wine: Avondale Muscat Rouge, South Africa.

Sarah Hellewell, Financial Controller
Yarmouth born Sarah is our one-woman accounts department. She ensures the smooth running of all things financial here at bijou bottles. If you have any account related questions Sarah is the one who can answer them. A fan of white wines she is always an invaluable member of the team for in house tasting. Also a lover of the countryside, Sarah can often be seen out and about with her two excitable dogs Rosie and Harriet (affectionately referred to as “The Terrierists”). 
Favourite Wine: Sancerre Rosé, Domaine Philippe Raimbault

John Utley, Cellar Master
A “yellowbelly” (someone from Lincolnshire) at heart, John has been living in Norfolk for 26 years. He is the back room boffin here at bijou bottles. In charge of both incoming and outgoing orders, more often then not you can see John with a tape gun or delivery note in hand. Rest assured that your orders with us are in safe hands. John is also a keen walker and camper, so you may see him out and about on many of Norfolk’s highways and byways. 
Favourite Wine: A 5L Bag In Box of Piquepoul!

Simon Mortimer, Logistics
Norfolk born Simon is our stalwart delivery driver. Whenever something needs to go somewhere Simon is on hand to ensure that it gets to wherever it needs to go with the utmost care and attention. Simon delivers the length and breadth of Norfolk and Suffolk, with weekly forays into the wilds of London. Nobody, probably, knows the roads of Norfolk better. A keen cyclist, Simon can be seen on many of the tracks and trails of the local area. 
Favourite Wine: l’Eau Mineral