INTERNATIONAL. Jérôme Goldberg, Retail & Travel Retail Customer Success Manager at data analyst ForwardKeys, has won the top prize in The Moodie Davitt Report’s latest readers’ rugby competition in association with Peuch & Besse and Walsh Whiskey.
As reported, we asked readers to predict the score of Saturday’s rugby clash between France and Ireland in Paris. France won a dramatic match 30-24 and are now outstanding favourites to win the Six Nations championship.
Our winner – fittingly a Frenchman based in Paris – correctly guessed that the home side would win, and then came closest to the correct score. At 28-25, he was just two points out from France’s actual score, and one from Ireland’s.
Jérôme wins a bottle of the newly redesigned The Irishman Single Malt whiskey from Walsh Whiskey along with a bottle of Château Fourney Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2016 by Hélène Rollet, in association with Jean Van de Velde, from Peuch & Besse (product details below).
Reacting to news of his win this morning, Jérôme said: “Merci, what a perfect way to start the week! Accurate forecasting comes with the job at ForwardKeys.”
We are also pleased to present a runners-up prize, which goes to another Paris-based Frenchman, Lagardère Travel Retail Executive Vice President – International Development Axel Gauthey. Axel predicted a 27-21 win for France and was just three points out from each team’s scores.
Crucially he also predicted an accurate six-point differential in the winning margin for France. Axel receives a bottle of The Irishman – The Harvest Irish whiskey as well as a bottle of Château Fourney from Peuch & Besse.
Honourable mentions go to Essence Corp President Jean-Jacques Bona and Lagardère Travel Retail COO EMEA Frédéric Chevalier, who also came close in their score predictions after backing France to win.
We thank our partners Walsh Whiskey and Peuch & Besse for their support, and the many readers who submitted entries for this latest contest. Watch out for details of more sporting competitions, coming soon.
Prize details
The Irishman – Single Malt (first prize)
This triple-distilled single malt has helped lead a rediscovery of Irish single malts. Matured in American Oak Bourbon and European Oak Oloroso Sherry casks to give exceptional flavour and complexity, it is triple distilled and crafted from a mash bill made entirely of Irish barley. Rich, honeyed maltiness and soft notes of candied fruit come from the double maturation. Bottled at 40% ABV.
The Irishman – The Harvest (runner-up)
Previously known as Founder’s Reserve, The Harvest is a unique marriage of single malt (70%) and single pot still (30%) Irish whiskey. Its renaming honours Ireland’s rich agricultural and distilling heritage. Triple distilled, matured in American Oak Bourbon barrels, and crafted from a mash bill made entirely of Irish barley. Bottled at 40% ABV.
Château Fourney by Hélène Rollet, in association with Jean Van de Velde (one bottle each for winner and runner-up)
To celebrate the best of France, Peuch & Besse put forward two bottles of Château Fourney Saint-Émilion by Hélène Rollet, in association with golfer Jean Van de Velde. As reported, this is part of the Wines of Golf Legends portfolio, a unique collaboration between some of the world’s most illustrious golfers and a selection of outstanding winemakers.
Wines of Golf Legends by Peuch & Besse was named as winner of The QDF Factor in October 2021. The QDF Factor was an extraordinary industry competition by Qatar Duty Free and The Moodie Davitt Report to encourage innovation and differentiation among brand owners.
Château Fourney Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2016 is a blend of 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. It features intense red and black fruit aromas and elegant silky tannins.
Peuch & Besse is a family business founded in 1904 and established as an owner-producer in Saint Émilion since 1978. The company entered the travel retail channel in 2005 and has cultivated a reputation as one of the sector’s most innovative wine houses.
