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




Wednesday 1 October 2014

2014 Loire vintage underway in Montlouis


2014 Montlouis Chenin Blanc
(above and below)

After having spend yesterday morning in the Cher Valley we returned to Epeigné-les-Bois before making a late sortie to Montlouis to get a flavour of what was happening there. We dropped in first to see Olivier Flamand at Flamand-Delétang at Saint-Martin-le-Beau. Olivier was well happy with 45-50 hl/ha for his Sauvignon Blanc. He had just started on his sparkling Montlouis.  

With the sun shining and forecast good at least until the weekend – unfortunately not so good from Monday at the moment with an unsettled forecast, the vignerons were smiling happy and fairly relaxed for a very stressful time of their year. We dropped in on the Domaine de la Taille aux Loups, François Chidaine and Frantz Saumon – all have started picking. Frantz has been picking for a fortnight or so, having started in Touraine Azay-le-Rideau.   


Fort Chidaine! – François' new winery looks now to be finished


Loading the press

@Frantz Saumon – the team offers encouragement!





Frantz in the pink!


Water for cleaning is a crucial part of making wine

Good to see: a renovated loge des vignes – part of the 
Loire's heritage to be preserved



Nothing to do with the 2014 vintage but an eye-catching 
old shop front in Saint-Martin-le-Beau

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