Awards and citations:


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




Sunday, 26 May 2013

Vitiloire 2013: some photos from yesterday in Tours


Vitiloire banner 

A first batch of photos from Vitiloire 2013 held in Tours close to Le Gare de Tours. Vitiloire continues today and features some 130 Loire producers. In marked contrast to last year, which was held during a heatwave with temperatures close to 30˚C, yesterday the temperature had barely reached 10˚C by 11.00 am. It was decidedly chilly until the sun came out around 1.00 only to be replaced within a fairly short time by showers.   

 Large bottle of Crémant/Saumur by L'Hotel de Ville



A few bubbles 

Musicians (above and below)



 Wearing this T-shirt may contravene Le Loi Evin as it obviously attracts female admirers!

 Lunch during a short period of sunshine in a day punctuated by showers – some heavy
(above and below)




 Vitiloire: parking restrictions

More photos to follow mainly of producers.

Saturday, 25 May 2013

Vouvray – a tasting of 2011s

Vouvray's Espace du Vin


 The tasting room

Jean-Michel Pieaux, president of the Vouvray producers 

In early April Marie Thomas of the Syndicat des Producteurs de Vouvray kindly arranged a tasting of the 2011 Vouvrays at the appellation's Espace du Vin. The building that houses the Espace previously belonged to M. Musset, who was formerly president of the Vouvray Syndicat des Producteurs.

Before we started the tasting we talked briefly about the 2012 vintage, especially the frost of April 16th/17th when Rochecorbon was more affected than further east in the appellation around Vernou and the valley of the Brenne. Catherine Dhoye-Deruet.

2011 in Vouvray was a rather easier vintage than 2010 when rained arrive at the wrong time in late September/early October provoking rot and forcing the vignerons to pick very quickly.  

In the tasting there were 22 Vouvray secs, eight demi-sec and seven moelleux. The wines were tasted blind.

Coup de Fougue, Florent Cosme in Noizay


2011 sec
Favourites
Coup de Fougue, Florent Cosme  
Florent is the brother of Matthieu (Domaine de Beaumont) and has only recently set up his domaine in Noizay. Vibrantly citric, fresh style with good length.



Cuvée de Silex, Domaine des Aubuisières, Bernard Fouquet
Attractive weight, texture and complexity with a touch of sweetness and then a typical hint of bitterness in the finish that is so characteristic of Chenin Blanc.

Francis Mabille
Lean, austere style with very clean flavours - just a touch of sweetness mid-palate. Will be interesting to see how it ages.

Also showed well:
Domaine de Beaumont, Matthieu Cosme
Jean Michel Gautier
Clos de Nouys
Le Peu Morier, Domaine Vincent Carême
Denis Breussin
Vignoble Brisebarre
Domaine de la Fontainerie, Catherine Droye-Deruet
Le Clos de la Meslerie, Peter Hahn

 Les Jours Heureux, Alain Robert

**

Demi-sec
Favourites
Les Jours Heureux, Alain Robert
Clean, citric aromas, quite complex although will benefit from further time in bottle for all the elements to come together harmoniously.

Cuvée Marcus, Clos de l'Epinay, Luc Dumange
  
Cuvée Marcus, Clos de l'Epinay, Luc Dumange
Good concentration and texture, quite a taut, austere style for a demi-sec  but with good length and should age well.  

Also showed well
Domaine de la Rouletiere, Jean-Marc Gilet

**



Moelleux
Cuvée Lubin Grand Liquoreux, La Croix des Vainqueurs, Laurent Bonneau
Discreet aromas but rich, concentrated fruit on palate, complex flavours – honey and rich dried apricot, barley sugar and baked apple.

Also showed well
Les Perruches, Domaine de la Poultiere
Cuvee Beauclair, Christian Blot
Souvenirs d'Automme, Caves Cathelineau, Jean-Charles and Frédéric Cathelineau












Friday, 24 May 2013

Epeigné-les-Bois: creating a garden


Last year the commune of Epeigné-les-Bois bought a small barn just across from Le Lézard Vert, the village café, restaurant and shop (cream building in left hand corner of photo). The barn's roof, which had fallen in, has now been replaced and now the small patch of ground (see above) had been cleared of its scrubby trees and will be turned into a garden. This morning clearing the space was in full swing.   





Inside the barn (above and below)


Loading up tree roots and other debris into the lorry

Thursday, 23 May 2013

Loire this weekend: diary reminders – Vitiloire and Piste du Saumur-Champigny


This Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th the annual Vitiloire has some 130 vignerons in the centre of Tours right by the main railway station. It is a friendly event with lots of opportunities to taste as well as sample a considerable variety of food. Well worth going if you are in the area. 

Vitiloire 2012: food stalls and tables close to La Gare

2012: Jean-Max Manceau: Domaine de Noire (Chinon)

****


vous donnent rendez-vous le
Dimanche 26 mai à Montsoreau
à partir de 10h à pied, à cheval ou à vélo
pour partir avec les vignerons,

6 étapes à retrouver dans le vignoble, des jeux et des énigmes sur la biodiversité.
Challenges adultes et enfants.

Toutes les équipes seront récompensées de nombreux cadeaux !