Saint-Bacchus: photo memory from the 1990s

For a number of years during the 1990s I was invited by the Comité  des Vins du Roussillon to judge and attend their Saint-Bacchus event, which was organised by Christine Ontivero. This photo of the group (above) has appeared on Facebook this evening.

Saint-Bacchus 1994 – Jim with Tim Atkin and Giles MacDonogh

2012 Decanter World Wine Awards: some pics from Day 2

One of the tasting rooms@The Worx – early morning already to go

The workers' breakfast

Christabel Lemke

Danny Casely: logistics supremo

Christelle Guibert: organiser of the DWWA

John Radford: Señor Spain  

John Switzer and Tony Aspler

John Switzer 

 Michael Schuster: Burgundy

Emily O'Hare: wine buyer for The River Café

Michael Hill-Smith MW: Australia

Now that John Livingstone-Learmonth's Rhône panel has started to award a few Gold medals, John has obviously decided he ought to carry a gold sticker around with him just in case ...  

 Panos Kakaviatos and something German

 Allan Cheesman in sombre mood!

Ian d'Agata: Italy

 Viewing Giles MacDonogh with his German group 

Taking notes...

Trying out a new scanner...

 Saint-Bacchus: Jim, Christine Ontivèro, Michel Smith and André Dominé

Saint-Bacchus: Liz Morcom MW, Lisa Barnard, Jim, Tim Johnston, Giles MacDonogh, Tim Atkin and Anthony Rose

 

Saint-Bacchus (another year): includes Myriam Huet, Olivier Poussier, Stephen Brook, Tim Atkin

 

Circle of Wine Writers tasting: John  Livingstone-Learmonth, unknown, Alastair Mackenzie, Lilyane Weston, Charlotte Lessing, Pamela Vandyke Price, John McNerney (behind)

Jean-Pierre Cathala

I was very sorry to learn late last night that Jean-Pierre had died of cancer during the night of Sunday (3rd) and Monday (4th) May aged 65. Ex-rugby player Jean-Pierre was a major figure in Languedoc wine and was one of the architects of the success of the annual Toques et Clochers auction of barriques of Limoux Chardonnay, showing the quality of the wines from one of southern France's cooler areas.

Although it has been a number of years since I had seen Jean-Pierre, I will long remember this towering man’s huge enthusiasm, energy and the work he did to improve and promote the wines of the Languedoc. Wine writer Giles Macdonogh claimed that his fingers still felt JP’s powerful and bone crushing handshake for years after they had been first introduced!

Obits and appreciations here, here and here.