Various photos: Sancerre, Tuscany etc.

 From Sancerre looking towards Chavignol  – taken fairly early in the morning?

It's another grey day here in Epeigné-les-Bois. I don't think we have come close to seeing the sun so far in 2011 – not even a glimpse of blue sky! So I'm spending some time today sorting out photos. Initially I file them under date and then later on sort them more precisely into places, portraits etc. That's the theory anyway but I'm always behind.

Although it takes time, it is worth doing otherwise I lose track of where pictures are filed. Also in sorting I find pictures that are worth posting – others need to be binned. Will be adding more during the course of the day.

The slopes between Amigny and Chavignol (part of village on right)

Sancerre: September 2007

Since starting to post the grey gloom has lifted and now there are a few glimpses of blue sky even a ray of thin sunshine from time to time.

  View near Badia di Morrona, Terricciola, Italia (November 2006)

Philippe Germain (Château de la Roulerie, Anjou) in full flow@RSJ Restaurant's 25th anniversary celebrations: July 2005

Thierry Germain (Domaine des Roches Neuves, Saumur)@same event

Santiago (Chile): reflections – above and below

Le Comptoir Saint Kerber: a small selection of oysters

Selection of three different types of oyster

Pierre Pichot opening an oyster

On Wednesday after tasting some 2009s at the nearby La Maison des Vins de Tours (25 Rue du Grand Marché) we headed into Les Halles to have a quick lunchtime snack of oysters at Le Comptoir Saint Kerber run by Pierre Pichot, who used to work for InterLoire and is now fully involved in the family oyster business.

Cancale

We shared 12 oysters – three different kinds: Cancale, Belon and Tsarskaya. We tried several wines to see how they matched. The three types of oyster were very different. Pierre told us to start with the Cancale – tasting very much of the sea and iodé (iodine). The lemony 2009 Clos de la Clarelière Muscadet-Sèvre-et-Maine from Domaine Luneau-Papin was a good match here.

Tsarskaya

Tsarskaya is one of Saint Kerber's special oysters. It is rounder, fatter and quite citric in the finish – a lovely oyster which went very well with the soft and creamy 2009 La Raie, Reuilly from Claude Lafond, which has a nice citric touch at the end. 

Belon (flat oyster similar to a Colchester native)

The Belon was quite salty and citric with an attractive soft, creamy aftertaste. Again the Lafond Reuilly was the best match here.

We also tried the ripe and mineral 2009 Les Romains, Sancerre from Domaine Fouassier with good length, power and complexity. Attractive wine but not the best match with the oysters.  

 2009 La Raie, Reuilly, Claude Lafond

 

Le Comptoir Saint Kerber

Halles Centrales 

37000 Tours

Tel: 02.47.38.38.78

Happy New Year – Joyeuse 2011

A smashing start to 2011... Santé!!