Jim's Loire: April 2013

Tuesday, 30 April 2013

Concours Mondial du Sauvignon: Chambord from above

Château de Chambord appearing through the gloom (above and below)

François I's 'hunting lodge'

Heading away from the draughty pile (above and below)

Monday, 29 April 2013

Concours Mondial du Sauvignon 2013: helicopter over the Sologne

Heading across the Sologne to Sancerre

Although driving through the Sologne you are aware that the area is predominantly forested, it is not until you fly over it that it is clear how extensive the forests are.

Pilot and Anne Serres behind in red

There are a lot of trees in the Sologne

Sunday, 28 April 2013

La Loire@Blois early Saturday morning

Looking upstream

A quartet of photos taken early Saturday morning from the north bank of the Loire@Blois just by the Hotel Mercure shortly before we headed off to taste the last of the Sauvignons.

Bridge over the Loire from the centre of Blois

Concours Mondial du Sauvignon 2013 more photos of tasters

Baudouin Havaux

Some photos from yesterday morning's tasting session at the Château of Blois.

Lionel Gosseaume

Pierre Chainier, Loire négociant and producer

Pieter de Waal, Hermit on the Hill, South Africa

Laurence Fourgeray

Thierry Michaud – Touraine producer@Noyers-sur-Cher (above and below)

Julie Guillot, one of the organisers of the Concours

After the tasting: Lionel Gosseaume (world expert on Meslier Saint François and

Interloire's representative for the Concours), Paul Buisse (retired négociant and producer), Christian Girard (retired Touraine producer)

A previous edition of Jim's Loire and a taster@the 16th century Concours

Concours Mondial du Sauvignon 2013 – results

Laurence Fourgeray tasting yesterday

The results of the 4th Concours Mondial du Sauvignon are now out here. Two Loire Sauvignons won two of the four trophies: the 2011 Domaine André Vatan Saint François, Sancerre won the trophy for the best oaked Sauvignon, while Domaine Gibault, 2012 Touraine Sauvignon won the trophy for the unoaked Sauvignon at less than 10€.

André Vatan (above and below) at his chai in Verdigny

A patriotic Paul Buisse after the tasting

Saturday, 27 April 2013

Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire from a helicopter

A first glimpse of the butte of Sancerre

Following the second tasting for the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon this morning in Blois there was a helicopter trip to Sancerre, which included an overflight above the vineyards of Pouilly. Here few of the photos from the trip.