Impeccable Sunday dinner@Le Bon Laboureur, Chenonceaux

 2013 Les Cabotines, Montlouis, Ludovic Chanson 

Last Sunday (14th June) we had a Sunday dinner at Le Bon Laboureur in Chenonceaux, which is always consistently good and the service is invariably very professional. We kicked off with Ludovic Chanson's fine 2013 Les Cabotines, Montouis. This sec both confirms that Ludovic continues to make fine wine but also underlines the strength in Montlouis, even though the appellation is quite small. We followed this with the 2009 Philippe Alliet L'Huisserie. It is a while since I have drunk one of Philippe's Chinons and this was very impressive.      

 Langoustines 

 

 A velouté of asparagus with an oeuf mollet

Tartare of dorade et gambas marinées – very good  

 Green and white asparagus with two different sauces

 Pigeon (above and below)

 Conjugaison de ris et tête de veau au présent et au passé,  

jus de veau et sauce gribiche

 Saddle of lamb with a herb crust

 2009 l'Huisserie, Chinon, Philippe Alliet

Lovely rich concentration, soft tannins – impressive   

 pre-dessert

 

 The spectacular omelette norvégienne    

with fraise & vanille icecream 

flamed with eau de vie de framboise

 

le coup de grâce – cherries in kirsch

Franz Saumon's 2008 Minérale + sees us back in London

2008 Minérale, Montlouis, Franz Saumon 

Wednesday early evening saw us back in London after a trouble-free drive back from Epeigné carrying a bottle of Franz's 2008 Minérale + in the car fridge, which was duly opened within minutes of being back in Forest Hill. With a slight touch of sweetness the golden coloured 2008 Minérale + is an ideal reviving draught after a long drive up through France. Beautifully clean and precise it is both a reminder of how good are dry whites in the 2008 vintage but also what high quality wines Franz makes. Time to buy some more wine from Franz when we are back in September!

Good to report that contrary to whatever concerns the Vouvray Syndicat and the INAO may have about the Loire being a barrier Franz's 2008 not only survived crossing the Loire, the Seine and then a train journey under La Manche (English Channel) to sing once poured into our glasses....   

Saturday 18th July tasting of Touraine Chenonceaux@Château de Chenonceau

Samedi 18 Juillet – dégustation sous les Étoiles au Château de Chenonceau des vins de Touraine-Chenonceaux – ouverture exceptionelle de la galerie sur Le Cher. 21.30 – 23.30. Entrée euros.

'La nuit nenue, le temps d'une dégustation sous les Étoiles, venez flâner, un verre à la main, dans les jardins illuminés, accompanés par la musique d'Arcangelo Corelli."