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, 25 August 2011

Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu: hail storm Monday 22nd August

Eric Chevalier, Domaine de l'Aujardière, Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu

The southern sector of Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu around the communes of Corcoué-sur-Logne, La Limouzinière and Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu was hit by a hailstorm on Monday night. I understand that Eric Chevalier was unfortunately amongst the producers affected.

As well as Muscadet this sector also produces vin de pays. The damage wrought by the hail has brought the harvest for the white grapes forward by about a week with picking starting this week. Unfortunately as the red grapes are not yet ripe, it is not possible to pick them now. Instead just hope that the damaged grapes do not turn rotten.    

More details here.

Eric Chevalier during the 2010 vintage

5 comments:

Anne Burchett said...

Feeling sorry for Eric who deserves better. Haven't you got a better photo though?

Jim's Loire said...

Anne. I agree Eric certainly deserves better. I actually quite like the photo but I have added another which you may prefer.

Luc Charlier said...

Yes, Jim. There is a controversy about what one can do to prevent hail-struck bunches from rotting. Most would say: hope and pray – if you know how, that is. Anyway, so close to harvest, spraying whatever might help is not an option. Denis Boireau, my host on the Île d’Yeu this summer, will be very pleased: he likes his Muscadet very very crisp.

Jim's Loire said...

Luc. Yes I remember your posts about your stay on You island.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for keeping this Grandlieu fan up-to-date.

Bob Alberta.