Champagne Gosset – a few more photos from 2.7.13

 The entrance@Gosset's elegant new premises in Epernay

bought from Laurent Perrier in 2009

Red flowers in one of the reception rooms 

Jean-Pierre Mareigner Chef de Cave since 1983

 Mareigner pouring samples of 2012 Vins Clairs

Jean-Pierre Mareigner tasting the 1985 Grand Millésime  

 

Gosset 1985 Grand Millésime 

  

Philippe Manfredini, international director for Gosset 

 A few trip members: Sarah Jane Evans MW 

 Rupert Millar, staff writer for The Drinks Business, Richard Woodward in background 

Reception area at Gosset's premises, Epernay

 Down in the cellars

Stacks of Champagne, a light and a small pile of fallen bottles

 Bacchus, a large format bottle and photographer getting in the way

Wonderful roses@La Briqueterie where we had an excellent lunch

 La Briqueterie (above and below)

Diners enjoying rare 2012 sunshine

Agnieszka Kumor@Rencontres Nationales des Vignerons Indépendants de France

Agnieszka Kumor (above and below)

On Thursday I was kindly invited to address the Rencontres Nationales des Vignerons Indépendants de France in Epernay. I was asked to talk on the UK market. I was delighted to meet Agnieszka Kumor, a Polish wine journalist now living in Paris. Agnieszka is a much valued contributor to our Les 5 du Vin blog. It was great to finally meet her and listen to her presentation of the Polish market.     

2012 Tour de France: Epernay to Metz – final big sprint before mountains?

Late autumn in the vineyards of Champagne 

Today's 207.5K stage from Epernay to Metz looks likely to be a repeat of yesterday – a procession across north-east France with the racing starting in earnest around 30K from the finish. Most likely scenario is for a small break to go ahead early and stay out most of the day, while the overall favourites conserve their energies for the two semi-mountain stages to come on Saturday (Vosges) and Sunday (Jura). Possible light showers are forecast for today.

From the race profile the finish looks to be dead flat, unlike yesterday's finish in Saint-Quentin that had a rise at the end. There is a tight corner just before the 2K mark and then another less tight at the start of the final straight  – about 800 metres (?) from the finish.

As this is the last flat stage before the race finishes at Cap d'Agde on 14th July the sprinters may well be keen to catch the breakaways with more time to spare than yesterday when the last man wasn't caught until within the last 500 metres.

Will André Griepel get his third stage win in a row or will it be Mark Cavendish, who will have had another day to get over Wednesday's crash, or someone else – Matt Goss? Whatever, let's hope that everyone including Tyler Farrar stays upright today.    

Les 5 du Vin sparkle in Champagne: soirée aux Berceaux

Hervé Lalau

Good post on Hervé Lalau's blog (Chronic Vineuses) about the very enjoyable dinner that four of Les 5 du Vin had at Les Berceaux in Epernay on Friday night. The evening included a fine bottle of 2009 Les Perruches, Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil from Gérard Vallée – plenty of black fruits, medium structure and attractive freshness in finish and good value at 28 or 29 euros. Modestly I can claim to have identified the mystery producer but only after plenty of clues.

   

 Gérard Vallée