Chenonceau and the Cher
Aynard de Clermont Tonnerre comments on his Clos du Porteau blog that progress is being made with the proposed sub-appellations of Touraine Chenonceaux and Touraine Oisly. As these two projects have been rumbling around for about 20 years, it will be good news (with some qualifications) if they finally come to fruition.
The AC Touraine Oisly would be for Sauvignon Blanc from the communes of Oisly et Thesée, while Chenonceaux would apparently include Bléré in the west down the Cher to Noyers-sur-Cher in the east. Chenonceaux would be for Sauvignon Blanc and a blended red, which is where I have my doubts. The best reds from the Cher are not necessarily blends – well made Côt is probably the best red of the Cher Valley and eastern Touraine. If the AC Chenonceaux is actually to mean anything and not just a political fudge then Côt should be permitted as a single varietal and, quite possibly, Cabernet. Naturally made to strict rules covering yields etc.
This is not to say that there aren't a few good blends here – often a mix of Cabernet and Côt is the most successful. But there are also too many poor red blends often involving Gamay as the sometimes wretched examples of Touraine-Amboise François Ier bear witness. Apparently when AC Touraine-Amboise was established it was decided not to include Côt. This now quite often means that the best reds from Amboise producers are designated AC Touraine and not Touraine-Amboise.
The AC Touraine Oisly would be for Sauvignon Blanc from the communes of Oisly et Thesée, while Chenonceaux would apparently include Bléré in the west down the Cher to Noyers-sur-Cher in the east. Chenonceaux would be for Sauvignon Blanc and a blended red, which is where I have my doubts. The best reds from the Cher are not necessarily blends – well made Côt is probably the best red of the Cher Valley and eastern Touraine. If the AC Chenonceaux is actually to mean anything and not just a political fudge then Côt should be permitted as a single varietal and, quite possibly, Cabernet. Naturally made to strict rules covering yields etc.
This is not to say that there aren't a few good blends here – often a mix of Cabernet and Côt is the most successful. But there are also too many poor red blends often involving Gamay as the sometimes wretched examples of Touraine-Amboise François Ier bear witness. Apparently when AC Touraine-Amboise was established it was decided not to include Côt. This now quite often means that the best reds from Amboise producers are designated AC Touraine and not Touraine-Amboise.
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Attention escroquerie
New scam warning
From the Vignerons Indépendants Centre Val de Loire
Certains d’entre vous ont été contactés par un certain Jeffrey McDonald, selon les termes du message ci-dessous. La société Raeburn Fine Wines existe bien mais elle ne connait pas ce monsieur et vous incite à ne pas lui répondre.
(Attention le numéro de téléphone est, comme d'habitude, pour une portable. Jim)
Several producers in the Loire have received a message from Jeffrey McDonald, who claims to work for Raeburn Fine Wines in Edinburgh. Raeburn is a long established high quality and interesting wine merchant but McDonald certainly does not work for them. The message is very similar to many previously sent by Eric Thorman etc. The sole telephone number given is a mobile.
Best to delete his email (below) immediately.
New scam warning
From the Vignerons Indépendants Centre Val de Loire
Certains d’entre vous ont été contactés par un certain Jeffrey McDonald, selon les termes du message ci-dessous. La société Raeburn Fine Wines existe bien mais elle ne connait pas ce monsieur et vous incite à ne pas lui répondre.
(Attention le numéro de téléphone est, comme d'habitude, pour une portable. Jim)
Several producers in the Loire have received a message from Jeffrey McDonald, who claims to work for Raeburn Fine Wines in Edinburgh. Raeburn is a long established high quality and interesting wine merchant but McDonald certainly does not work for them. The message is very similar to many previously sent by Eric Thorman etc. The sole telephone number given is a mobile.
Best to delete his email (below) immediately.
De : Mc Donald Janie [mailto:raeburnfinewines@scotlandmail.com]Envoyé : vendredi 5 juin 2009 13:35À : undisclosed-recipients:Objet : Vente de vos vins au Royaume Unis
From : Mc Donald JeffreyHead Office and Sales21/23 Comely Bank RoadEdinburghEH4 1DS, Scotland, UKPhone : +44751085783E-mail : raeburnfinewines@scotlandmailcom
Ayant dégusté vos vins ici à Edinburgh, je me suis permis de rentrer en contact avec vous pour vous pour vous faire savoir que je suis intéressés par la distribution de vos millésimes en Irlande et en Angleterre.je souhaiterais collaborer avec vous.je voudrais savoir vos disponibilités et vos tarifs à l'export.Je voudrais que vous me confirmiez vos conditions de travail (paiement à 30 ou 60 jours fin de mois - assuré COFACE, temps de préparation d'une commande) pour vous transmettre une commande à exporter pour la vente sur les deux territoires Irlandais et Anglais.je vous fais savoir que je ne vend pas en grande surface mais seulement à des clients particuliers (bars, restaurants, casinos, night club, ...).Dans l'attente de votre réponse, veuillez accepter nos salutations distinguées.
From : Mc Donald JeffreyHead Office and Sales21/23 Comely Bank RoadEdinburghEH4 1DS, Scotland, UKPhone : +44751085783E-mail : raeburnfinewines@scotlandmailcom
Ayant dégusté vos vins ici à Edinburgh, je me suis permis de rentrer en contact avec vous pour vous pour vous faire savoir que je suis intéressés par la distribution de vos millésimes en Irlande et en Angleterre.je souhaiterais collaborer avec vous.je voudrais savoir vos disponibilités et vos tarifs à l'export.Je voudrais que vous me confirmiez vos conditions de travail (paiement à 30 ou 60 jours fin de mois - assuré COFACE, temps de préparation d'une commande) pour vous transmettre une commande à exporter pour la vente sur les deux territoires Irlandais et Anglais.je vous fais savoir que je ne vend pas en grande surface mais seulement à des clients particuliers (bars, restaurants, casinos, night club, ...).Dans l'attente de votre réponse, veuillez accepter nos salutations distinguées.
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Avis:
Encore un fumiste qui se fait passer pour un acheteur....il tourne. Si vous avez reçu un mail de ce genre d'escrocs , il y a un inspecteur de police à Londres , Paul Cheadley qui suit les dossiers de ces escrocs et qui demande à tous de l'aider en lui transmettant les mails qu'on reçoit des escrocs..
Si nous ne faisons pas ce geste civique ils continueront à trouver des pigeons...
Paul.Cheadle@met.police.uk
Ce Paul est en plus très sympas et remercie tout le monde de notre coopération.
Encore un fumiste qui se fait passer pour un acheteur....il tourne. Si vous avez reçu un mail de ce genre d'escrocs , il y a un inspecteur de police à Londres , Paul Cheadley qui suit les dossiers de ces escrocs et qui demande à tous de l'aider en lui transmettant les mails qu'on reçoit des escrocs..
Si nous ne faisons pas ce geste civique ils continueront à trouver des pigeons...
Paul.Cheadle@met.police.uk
Ce Paul est en plus très sympas et remercie tout le monde de notre coopération.
•••
The report on the visit to Charles Joguet (2nd June 2009) is now complete. Now working on the visit to Jérome Billard 'heading for the top' of Domaine de la Noblaie.
morning. I had the pleasure of visiting the loire valley just two weeks ago. It was worth the trip from South Africa. We spent 6 days driving around tasting wines and seeing the sites. It was a great trip and really enjoyed it. I also went to visit the Chenonceau and the Cher. What an impressive chateaux, just a pity they are restoring the place and there was so much scaffolding around.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jim for mentionning my modest blog....
ReplyDeleteThe boss of INAO in Tours is Pascal CELLIER,(very sharp) he is a strong partisan of the soil.... He strongly believes that the wine start with a proper soil..
It sounds that only the 1rst côtes (which is a small portion) will be eligigble for the Touraine Chenonceaux. (I think that should be around 20% only. )
The next step is the "comission d'enquête" He is very famous and in charge of INAO from Sancerre to Muscadet... He wants the Touraine Chenonceaux appear..
Thanks for this detail Aynard. It would certainly mAke sense to only include the better terroirs rather than a blanket promotion.
ReplyDelete