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 12 June 2011

More 9th June visits (updated)

Céline Champalou

After the Puzelats we headed westwards along the Loire past Amboise to Husseau where we saw Frantz Saumon and tasted his current range of wines. Next on to Vouvray and Domaine Champalou where we saw Céline Champalou as her parents – Catherine and Didier – were away in Lyon for a tasting and lunch at Bocuse to mark the selection of their sparkling Vouvray for a prize.

Sign@Frantz Saumon
Two empty bottles@Frantz Saumon inc a magnum of Morgon from Marcel Lapierre


We then had time for a quick visit to the new premises of Château Gaudrelle in Rochecorbon and see Alexandre Monmousseau. Alexandre said he was stunned by how quickly this year's grapes were developing. "I have to keep pinching myself to make sure that I'm not dreaming!" He made an interesting observation on the possible effect of the flowering before the summer solstice. "Normally the flowering isn't finished until after the summer solstice when the length of the days are already starting to decline. This year the vines will have an additional 20-25 days during the period of maximum light. We don't know what effect this will have."

Alexandre opening a Vouvray and checking the cork


In the cellars of Gaudrelle


Then it was back to Montlouis to see Ludovic Chanson, whose wines I first tasted at this year's Salon des Vins de Loire. Having tasted his full range I remain impressed, especially with his Montlouis. Clearly yet another emerging star in Montlouis!

Ludovic Chanson



Bertrand Jousset cultivating his vines near Husseau



6 comments:

Luc Charlier said...

Can’t believe it!
Together with a bunch of friends, we used to organize one “groupage” a year (5.000 bottles in total, not bad) of French wines to Belgium ... ages ago. I remember those lovely Vouvray wines very well, and Didier as well. I also remember the very elegant design of his name on the bottles (a turquoise-shade of green with discrete shadowing).
And now, this Oh so handsome Céline is already a daughter of his!
You know what, Jim, Jacques Berthomeau is right, the “Syndrome du Vieux Con” is hanging above our heads.

Anchois said...

I hope the wine is as elegant and refined as Céline

Jim's Loire said...

Anchois – naturally!

Colin Thorne said...

How was the 2010 Mineral+ at Frantz Saumon showing? I sold my last three bottles of the 2009 yesterday and I nearly wept. I tried the 2010 in early February while it was still fermenting so a bit difficult to draw any conclusions. Frantz reckoned it'll be an early drinker whereas the 2009 would age well.

Aynard said...

Great picture of Alexandre .... wonderful wines

Jim's Loire said...

Thanks Aynard.