Jean-Pierre Chevallier (Château de Villeneuve) wows The RSJ + forthcoming Luneau-Papin treat

1999 Grand Clos, Saumur-Champigny, Château de Villeneuve

Last night Jean-Pierre and Florence Chevallier (Château de Villeneuve) were at the RSJ Restaurant in London's Waterloo to present their wines to more than 40 clients of the restaurant. The wines showed brilliantly, in particular, wonderfully balanced and smooth 1999 Grand Clos, Saumur-Champigny, which showed just how well this wine can age.

Jean-Pierre said "1999 was a vintage that was overlooked because of all hype surrounding 2000 and the start of the new millennium. Now no-one talks about the 2000 vintage in the Loire. Instead the 1999s are showing well. 1999's very well balanced growing season produced very well balanced wines, which are now perfect to drink."

Wines shown:

Whites

2011 Saumur Blanc 

2011 Saumur Blanc Les Cormiers 

(First time outside the domaine that the 2011 has been tasted. Jean-Pierre believes that this is a vintage that will age particularly well. In my experience vintages of Les Cormiers age very well for at minimum of 10-15 years.

2010 Saumur Blanc Les Cormiers   

Reds

2009 Saumur-Champigny Vieilles Vignes

1995 Saumur-Champigny Vieilles Vignes

2009 Saumur-Champigny Le Grand Clos

1999 Saumur-Champigny Le Grand Clos

 

2009 Saumur-Champigny served with main course of Gressingham duck.

Sweet white 

2003 Coteaux de Saumur 

The first commercial vintage of Coteaux de Saumur

 

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Forthcoming attraction (from the RSJ blog):

 

'Pierre-Marie and Marie Luneau-Papin@RSJ Monday 20th May

Wine Tasting & Dinner at RSJ Restaurant Monday 20th May

Pierre-Marie and Marie Luneau-Papin £47.95

We are delighted that Pierre-Marie and Marie Luneau will be showing their wonderful and incredibly varied range of Muscadets during this evening. 

Pierre-Marie is the son of the legendary Pierre, who has been the leading light in the Muscadet region for many years and he has been working side by side with his father since 2005 in raising again the profile of this once fashionable region. Their property which exceeds 40 hectares, consists of various different terroirs and is planted for the most part with old vines and we will see how the different soils influence the flavour of the wine.

This is a great opportunity to see just how fabulous Muscadet can be when made by top vignerons and we hope that you will join us for a fascinating evening.

The menu will be based around the classic dishes that naturally accompany the great wines from this region. Pierre-Marie and Marie speak very good English and we look forward to hearing them talk about these truly exceptional Muscadets and how they can age very well.

Amongst the wines to be tasted will be their top cuvée L’ d’Or from the 1995 and 2005 vintages as well as the Cuvée ‘Excelsior’ made from vines over 75 years old and aged on the lees for 3 years.

For reservations please contact:

RSJ Restaurant
33 Coin Street
London SE1 9NR

Tel: 020-7928 4554

E-Mail: tom.king@rsj.uk.com

(Declaration: I have worked as a consultant on a flat fee for the RSJ since around 1990. My main roles are presenting the regular tasting-dinners, maintaining the RSJ blog and suggesting producers who are worthy of consideration for the wine list.)