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 September 2010

2010 Loire vintage: ripening Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc at Domaine de Bablut's Petit Princé vineyard
A quick overnight trip to Anjou partly to see how the grapes are shaping up, partly for an interview with Jacques Beaujeau of Château de la Varière and partly to pick up wine for the Trois Vedettes du Layon appearance at the RSJ Restaurant on Monday night and Tuesday lunchtime.

The Chenin pictured above is unlikely to be picked until October, although the harvest for earlier ripening varieties will probably start around the 18th-20th October. For the moment things are looking promising in Anjou, although it has been very dry. However, as the weather can still turn wet it is unwise to make any predictions until the grapes are picked and safely in the chai.  

9 comments:

Luc Charlier said...

Jim, a Beotian’s question.
RSJ restaurant stands for what ?
I did not frequent Blackfriars a lot when I was in my UK scouting period (then a keen motorcyclist), and know nothing of the place. RSJ initials, according to the web, can be attributed to a great many things, including some tattoo specialist and a Portuguese transport company of a kind. Of course, it could also mean Royal Society of J-something (joggers, jesters, jokers, junkies ?????).
Please, let me be enlightened !

Jim's Loire said...

Luc. Rolled steel joist – a building support.

Luc Charlier said...

« Un mot, un geste, et Jim Budd fait le reste ! »

You only need to ask ...

Thank U

Jim's Loire said...

Luc:

http://www.rsj.uk.com/

Chris Kissack said...

Looking forward to Tuesday's tasting. See you there, Jim?

Jim's Loire said...

Chris: Glad you can make it. Will be there – saw all of the producers this morning to collect the wines plus an older vintage from each to show how the wines age.

Luc Charlier said...

Jim, I tried the link (had found it myself as well) and, as soon as you click on « enter », it flashes in and out, in and out. First time I experience that ever.

Reminds me of the mature old-fashioned lady:
“John, entrééé ouh sohrwtééé, mais arrêtééé ce va-et-vient ridicoule »
- imitates the English intonation -

Luc Charlier said...

Jim,

It took me a while but now I realize : RSJ is actually an « I-beam ». Why didn’t they tell me before? The link to the restaurant, as well as their access through “enter”, is still non-functioning!

Jim's Loire said...

Luc. It is an an I-beam or a upm, I believe. The site is working fine for me. Jim