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




Thursday 2 October 2014

2014 Loire – vintage also underway in Vouvray + 2011 Foreau Sec

 Chenin Blanc@the Clos de Venise

Yesterday we had a quick look@Vouvray, in particular in Jacky Blot's (Domaine de la Taille aux Loups) two parcels on the north side of the Loire – Le Clos de Venise (Noizay) and Le Clos de la Bretonnière. With wonderful fine weather at the moment, which has lasted for much of September and now into October, the vignerons are optimistic at last after two difficult years, although yields are tending to be low – Jacky says he will be lucky to see 30 hl/ha this year. On the other hand he thinks 2014 could well be potentially the best sec he has made in Vouvray and Montlouis. Comparisons with the 2002 and 2008 vintages are being made.

With a less favourable forecast for early next week, Jacky is keen to get as much as possible of the top parcels picked this week, so one picking team in Vouvray, the other in Montlouis – tackling Clos Mosny and Clos Michet. 

Clos de Venise: 

 Phew! Hot work for the first day of October!

 Clos de Venise – sorting (above and below)



Very little waste in 2014 – grapes rejected in Clos de Venise
– big contrast to last year

•••

 Picking machine@work in vineyards near Noizay

 
 Vernou-sur-Brenne

Grapes@Vernou
 
Vernou: picking machine returning to vines after its lunch
 Grand houses along the Premier Côte@Vouvray
(Above and below)



Clos de la Bretonnière


 Organising pickers

 Jacky Blot@the sorting table



 Grapes in the upper and older part of the Clos de la Bretonnière 
are being left to see if sweet wine can be made this year
 
 Hod-carrier

 Sun-bathing vintage..

Another hod carrier

On the way back to Epeigné-les-Bois we dropped in La Grange Tiphaine where we saw Coralie Delecheneau, who reported that Damien was over at Saint-Martin-le-Beau (AC Montlouis) picking for their sparkling cuvées.

Philippe Foreau: 2011 Vouvray Sec 
Domaine de Clos Naudin

While in Vouvray we drove up the Rue de la Croix Buisée to see if anything was going on at Philippe Foreau's Clos Naudin. As it was lunchtime there was not unnaturally little activity but we did get a glimpse of his pickers all seated round a table enjoying a sitdown lunch. So it seemed appropriate yesterday evening to open in celebration of the 2014 vintage a bottle of his 2011 Vouvray Sec. Still very young, of course, but with an attractive citric and slightly baked apple character with just a touch of sweetness to balance the acidity.   

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