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




Showing posts with label Clos Chossay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clos Chossay. Show all posts

Saturday, 3 October 2015

#2015Loire – Clos Chossay, Epeigné-les-Bois 'Grand Cru' Vin de France



The elite team of pickers head to the vines.
The weather was still a little damp
but rain had stopped sometime earlier
so the helicopters to dry the fruit
were stood down
 
Netting to protect the best of the grapes from predatory birds


Le Patron gives his instructions 

Treasured grapes lovingly harvested  





Colour co-ordinated expertise....

Lifting the netting 
Checking grape maturity
Completely focused vendangeurs 


Pickers motors parked on road outside

Monday, 6 October 2014

2014 Loire: harvesting reds@Clos Chossay, Epeigné-les-Bois

 The small but valuable crop was netted 
against hungry, local birds
(Fabrice and Mark)

On Saturday Mark and Suzie Robertson @Le Clos Chossay, Epeigné-les-Bois' sole wine producer, harvested the red grapes – Cabernet Franc and Côt – with assistance of friends. Once all the grapes are picked, everything is destemmed by hand. 

Harvesting on Saturday has proved to be a wise decision as it has rained here much of this afternoon with the rain getting steadily heavier.    

 Removing and folding the nets 


 All ready for the off...

Fabien
 
Mark: les premiers coups de secatars  

 Careful bunch examination

Lydia


 Damien seeking independent advice on grape ripeness

 Suzie and Mark recruited at least one 
red hot picker this year...


Fabien

 Suzie en plein vendange

 Sylvain: last sections of netting removed

 Sylvain among the vines ... an unposed portrait

 A nod@Côte Rôtie: Clos Chossay's unique field blend  Cabernet Franc and Côt 
with just a touch of Sauvignon Blanc

Perfect grapes – no need to employ expensive 
Bordeaux-based consultants!

Thursday, 2 October 2014

2014 Loire Vintage: picking Cabernet Franc@Epeigné-les-Bois

 2014 Cabernet Franc@Epeigné-les-Bois 

Photos from this morning's picking in James Marchais' vineyard@Chossay featuring a small elite equipe de vendangeurs. 

 Small team of elite pickers including Denis in James Marchais' vineyard

 James Marchais@work

 
Picking into small cases

 Small crop of healthy grapes 







 




Picking under a radiant sky
 
 Mark Robertson in the neighbouring Clos Chossay 
looking at his netted reds. The Côt and Cabernet 
will be picked on Saturday.
Small yield due to unfavourable weather@flowering