Some more highlights from Renaissance and 2011 Salon des Vins

2007 SuaVignon, Domaines des Maisons Brulées, Beatrice and Michel Augé

Renaissance

Excellent Sauvignon Blanc (VDT Français) from the biodynamic Domaine des Maisons Brulées in Pouillé with all the definition and precision you associate with 2007 with the the leaness and sharp acidity that some have.

 

Stéphane Bernardeau being interrogated by the Wine Detective

Fine Chenins again from Stephané and Richard at the Renaissance tasting.

Richard Leroy

Mark Angeli trying out his Tony Blair look – hasn't got the Blair wonky eye right yet

Another shot of Sébastien David modelling his ultra-chic range of decanters

Salon

Couple of fine Muscadets
Respecting a long tradition I started the Salon by tasting Pierre Luneau (Domaine Luneau-Papin, Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine) starting with the latest vintage – 2010, which is already showing well with a combination of weight of fruit plus minerality. A sso often the future Clos des Allées was a favourite.

Rather disappointingly the Luneaus' fridge was better regulated than usual so the wines were at the correct temperature for tasting, so no chance to enjoy their famous Muscadet glacé. 

   

Terre de Pierre, Muscadet-Sèvre-et-Maine, Domaine Luneau-Papin 

Not sure what vintage the above Terre de Pierre is – could be either the 2009 or the 2008 as I tasted both. Anyway this comes from the vineyard (Butte de la Roche) belonging to Pierre-Marie Luneau, which overlooks the Marais de Goulaine. The 2009 is richer with more concentration and some minerality in the finish. In contrast the 2008 is leaner, more precise but austere at present but it has good length and may well keep longer, although production was small due to the April frost so the number of bottles will be severely limited.

Label above must have been for the 2009...

Next stop after the Luneaus was Gadais Père et Fils (Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine) starting with their easy drinking 2010 Emotion, which is already in bottle. Of the five wines I tasted here the stand-out was the very fine 2009 Vieilles Vignes. Beautifully balanced it is delicious to drink now but will surely age well over the next five years or more. 

 

Tony Blair still filed under crime

Waterstone's selection of crime books

Dropped into Waterstone's on Piccadilly, London today and was  very pleased to see that Blair's autobiography continues to be filed under crime.

Tony Blair's 'Journey' to crime

Photo taken and posted by Jane Brampton

'Subversively move Tony Blair's memoirs to the crime section in book shops'

This Facebook was created on Friday 3rd September. Since then it has attracted over 5000 members as well as many examples of Blair's book being moved to crime and other appropriate sections in UK bookshops. The publication of Blair's book has switched attention back onto his illegal invasion of Iraq. There was an attempt in Dublin to effect a citizen's arrest on him for war crimes committed.  

An equally appropriate place – taken and posted by Emily Read

Taken and posted by Ian Kerridge

Tony Blair visits Mareuil-sur-Cher

Cuvée Tony Blair@the Clos Roche Blanche

Britain's former Prime Minister, Tom Blair, made a private and entirely unofficial visit to the Cher Valley in February. Among the places he visited was the Clos Roche Blanche. I gather Blair was so impressed with their 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Cuvée No 5 that Didier Barouillet and Catherine Roussel rather reluctantly agreed, as both were much opposed to Blair's Iraq adventure, to chalk his name on the vat to commemorate the ex-Prime Minster's visit. 

Apparently Catherine and Didier were contacted at short notice by the local Préfet asking whether they would be prepared to welcome an unnamed foreign  dignitary. It wasn't until several minutes into Blair's 30 minute visit, that they realised who he was.