Thursday, December 31, 2009
2010: Happy New Year
Friday, December 25, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
30th anniversary events: Christophe Daviau (Domaine de Bablut) 8th March 2010
Monday 8th March 2010
We are delighted to announce the first of our growers' tastings to celebrate the RSJ's 30th anniversary in 2010 – Christophe Daviau of Domaine de Bablut, Brissac Quincé in Anjou.
Although the Daviau family has lived and made wine at the Domaine de Bablut since 1546, Christophe is very much the modern vigneron, while respecting and valuing the best of the tradition (?). After graduating in oenology at Bordeaux University, he spent 18 months in Australia returning in 1989 taking over running the estate from his father – Jean-Pierre. Since 1996 the domaine has been farmed organically and is now biodynamic.
Christophe makes a full range of Anjou wines. His particular speciality is his Coteaux de l'Aubance – he is acknowledged to be an expert in botrytised Chenin Blanc. Bablut has a growing reputation both for its dry Anjou Blanc (100% Chenin Blanc) –Petit Princé and Ordovicien – and its reds – Petra Alba (100% Cabernet Franc) and Rocca Nigra (100% Cabernet Sauvignon).
Full details of this tasting dinner will be posted shortly on the blog and website. We also expect to announce further tasting dinners with some of our other favourite producers very soon.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Christmas and New Year: opening hours
Saturday, December 19, 2009
New Year's Eve menu
Selection of Spanish meats, Manchego cheese, olives 7.95
Mediterranean vegetable terrine, Buffalo mozzarella,
mixed olives and pesto 7.25
Pan seared scallops, cep risotto, rocket 9.95 / 17.95
Warm salad of marinated wild rabbit, endive, onion marmalade, anchovies 7.95 / 15.95
Main Course
artichokes, leeks, Parmesan and lemon dressing 18.95
Scottish cod, broccoli, peppered
Saddle of English lamb, roast root vegetables,mashed potatoes, lamb jus 17.95
Roast loin of venison, brussel sprouts, parsnip puree
Grilled British rib eye, French beans, chestnut mushrooms,
Side Orders £2.95
French beans
Broccoli
New season potatoes
Mash potatoes
House mixed salad / green salad
Chips
Desserts all £5.75
Cloutie dumpling, whisky sauce
Fig and walnut tart, amontillado cream
Lime poached pears, blackberry sorbet, shortbread
Apple and parkin pudding, treacle toffee sauce,
Calvados crème fraiche
Chocolate and chestnut roulade, rum and raisin ice cream
Iced white chocolate and cranberry parfait
Homemade ices and sorbets
Selection of cheeses served with quince paste and pressed fig and almond cake £6.75
Coffee
Filter £2.00
Cappuccino / decaff £2.20
Espresso / decaff £2.00
Double espresso £2.95
Bookings on 020-7928 4554
The RSJ is also open on New Year's Day from 5pm-11pm
Happy New Year
2010
Anyone wishing to leave for the fireworks at midnight,
please allow plenty of time to pay your bill
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
New menus: fixed and à la carte (2nd December 2009)
2 courses £16.95
3 courses £19.95
Roast pumpkin soup
Ham hock terrine, homemade piccalilli
Seared cured Scottish salmon, smoked salmon
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Braised Angus feather blade steak, roasted root vegetables,
Roast English free - range chicken, cavalo nero, chargrilled
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Choice of desserts from the a la carte menu
Side Orders £2.95
French beans
Broccoli
New season potatoes
Mash potatoes
House mixed salad / green salad
Chips
A la carte
Roast pumpkin soup 5.50
Selection of Spanish meats, Manchego cheese, olives 7.95 /11.95
Seafood ravioli, cauliflower puree, red pepper coulis 7.95 /14.95
Mediterranean vegetable terrine, Buffalo mozzarella,
Wild mushroom tagliatelle, rocket, shaved Parmesan 6.95 /12.95
Warm salad of marinated Denham Estate rabbit,
Roast English free - range chicken, cavalo nero,
Roast halibut, Dutch finger carrots, Jerusalem artichokes, leeks, Parmesan and lemon dressing 18.95
Dish of the day P.O.A
Grilled British rib eye, French beans, chestnut mushrooms,
Cloutie dumpling, whisky sauce
Fig and walnut tart, amontillado cream
Lime poached pears, blackberry sorbet, shortbread
Apple and parkin pudding, treacle toffee sauce,
Calvados crème fraiche
Chocolate and chestnut roulade, rum and raisin ice cream
Iced white chocolate and cranberry parfait
Homemade ices and sorbets
Selection of cheeses served with quince paste and pressed fig and almond cake £6.75
Coffee
Filter £2.00
Cappuccino / decaff £2.20
Espresso / decaff £2.00
Double espresso £2.95
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
New à la carte menu
Curried parsnip soup 5.50
Ravioli of grilled aubergine and basil, tomato sauce
Terrine of confit duck & duck livers, homemade
Selection of Spanish meats, Manchego cheese,
Seafood ravioli, cauliflower puree, red pepper coulis 7.95 /14.95
Mediterranean vegetable terrine, Buffalo mozzarella,
WildWild mushroom tagliatelle, rocket, shaved Parmesan 6.95 /12.95
Wa Warm salad of marinated Denham Estate rabbit,
Slow roast belly of Suffolk pork, broccoli, sweet onions,
Roast halibut, Dutch finger carrots, Jerusalem
Roast Scottish haddock, chestnut mushrooms,
Dish of the day P.O.A
Seared Dutch calves liver, french beans, crispy bacon,
Roast loin of venison, brussel sprouts, parsnip puree
Grilled British rib eye, French beans, chestnut mushrooms,
Desserts all £5.75
Spiced blueberry brulée, pecan shortbread
Sticky date pudding, treacle toffee sauce, clotted cream
Cinnamon and hazelnut cake, apple compote,
Chocolate tart, coffee and Tia Maria ice cream
Iced prune and yoghurt parfait, oranges,
Homemade ices and sorbets
Selection of cheeses served with quince paste and pressed fig and almond cake £6.75
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
2008 vintage report on tasting: 23rd November 2009
The RSJ's 2009 wine events calendar concluded with our first detailed look at the 2008 vintage – five whites followed by four reds.
Fortunately 2008 was a small crop, so that despite the temperature deficit during the summer the grapes were able to ripen properly and benefitted from a long hang time to full develop their flavours. Like 2007, 2008 is notable for its clean, precise flavours. The wines are generally fuller than those of 2007 and less austere, although the acidity is more marked than in years such as 2005 and 2006. There are some very good 2008 dry whites as well as demi-secs and good reds with more flesh than 2007. The top red cuvées, although few have yet been bottled, should have to potential to age some time. However, as far as sweet wines are concerned 2007 is well superior as the weather broke at the end of October, so the best of the sweet wines are light and charming. Generally to be enjoyed young and it's not a good idea to match them with desserts.
Aperitif
Aperitif
2008 Sauvignon VDP Val du Loire Domaine de Bablut, Christophe Daviau £8.50
We started with this Sauvignon Blanc from Anjou. Sauvignons from this part of the Loire tend to be richer with flavours of yellow plum and heading towards the exotic fruit end of the scale rather than the more citric, mineral notes from Sancerre and the other Central Vineyards. Appeared to hit the spot for a good number of the assembled company – some 30 strong.
Whites
2008 Saumur Blanc, Domaine des Hauts de Sanziers, Dominique Tessier £7.70
We served Dominique's lemony and quite austere Saumur Blanc by itself. I like its clean precise flavours but it is clearly not to everyone's taste as one taster found it green. This may take on some additional weight wit a little more time in bottle.
We served these three Sauvignons with the first course:
2008 Touraine Sauvignon, Domaine Roussely, Vincent Roussely £8.25
The RSJ started importing Vincent Roussely's wines earlier this year and Vincent has been a very successful addition to our portfolio of producers. This 2008 is a good combination of citric freshness and generous fruit with gooseberry and grapefruit flavours.
Vincent is involved in a scheme called Mes Vignes (http://www.mesvignes.com/). Through Mes Vignes you can buy 12 vines (or multiples of 12), follow the work in the vineyard, be involved in the harvest and then receive wine from your vines. Currently there is a video on the home page of Mes Vignes, which features Vincent.
2008 Quincy, Domaine des Ballandors, Jean Tatin and Chantal Wilk £11.00
The Tatin's Quincy is often quite citric and lean when young and this is no exception – I expect it will take on more weight with a bit more time in bottle.
2008 Sancerre, Les Pierris, Domaine Roger Champault et Fils £11.25
From vineyards planted on Les Caillottes – limestone with very little soil. About 40% of Sancerre's vineyards are planted on this type of rock. The resulting wines are expressive young and tend to mature quickest of the three types of terroir in Sancerre. They are generally the first to be bottled. The 2008 Les Pierris has those citric and mineral notes typical of Sancerre.
Served with:
Seafood ravioli, cauliflower puree, red pepper coulis
Preferences
Tasting the three Sauvignons without food the Quincy emerged as the favourite just in front of the Touraine with the Sancerre some way behind. However with food, the Sancerre leapt up to take top spot from the Touraine with the Quincy well down.
••
Reds
Again we served the first red by itself.
2008 Anjou Rouge, Château de la Roulerie, Philippe Germain £9.15
Philippe Germain has 24 hectares in Saint-Aubin-de-Luigné at the western end of the Layon Valley. These 24 hectares are split into 22 parcels, which I would have though are a nightmare to work, although they do spread the risk of hail and frost damage. The 2008 has attractive coal tar and sooty aromas – one of the characteristics of Loire Cabernet Franc – and is easy drinking.
Followed by three Cabernet Franc reds, all at domaine level as prestige cuvées are not yet available :
2008 Chinon, Domaine de la Perrière, Baudry-Dutour £9.25
Pleasant easy drinking red from vineyards in the commune of Cravant-les-Coteaux planted on flat gravel land.
2008 Saumur-Champigny Domaine de Nerleux, Régis Neau £9.50
Drinking well now, easy drinking not a heavyweight. Régis has 84 hectares of vines mainly Chenin Blanc (38ha) and Cabernet Franc with one hectare of Chardonnay which is used in the Crémant de Loire.
2008 Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Les Rouillières, Frédéric Mabileau £10.30
The most structured of the four reds and the one with the most complexity and concentration. This ideally needs a little more time in bottle to round out, although it already works well with food. Frédéric now has 27 hectares of vines.
Served with:
Roast saddle of lamb, honey roast parsnips, broccoli, mashed potato, red wine jus
Preferences
The Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil was the clear winner both without and with food. Not surprisingly given its greater structure the preference was even more clear cut with the lamb. Of the other two the Chinon was preferred without food, while the Saumur-Champigny took over second place with the lamb.
Next tasting dinner will on Monday 18th January 2010 – – a raid on Nigel's cellar.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
23rd November tasting: 2008 vintage – wines and menu
2008 Sauvignon VDP Val du Loire Domaine de Bablut, Christophe Daviau
Then:
Whites
2008 Saumur Blanc, Domaine des Sanziers, Dominique Tessier
2008 Touraine Sauvignon, Domaine Roussely, Vincent Roussely
Jean Tatin checking the ripeness of Sauvignon Blanc@Quincy 2008
2008 Quincy, Domaine des Ballandors, Jean Tatin and Chantal Wilk
2008 Sancerre, Les Pierris, Domaine Roger Champault et Fils
Served with:
Seafood ravioli, cauliflower puree, red pepper coulis
••
Reds
2008 Anjou Rouge, Château de la Roulerie, Philippe Germain
2008 Chinon, Domaine de la Perrière, Baudry-Dutour
2008 Saumur-Champigny Domaine de Nerleux, Régis Neau
2008 Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Les Rouillières, Frédéric Mabileau
Served with:
Roast saddle of lamb, honey roast parsnips, broccoli, mashed potato, red wine jus
Pear and walnut tart with vanilla ice cream
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
RSJ's Christmas 2009 wine offer
To order: Tel 020 7928 4554 e-mail tom.king@rsj.uk.com
A box for Christmas Day £ 55.00
1 bottle Crémant de Loire Brut, Domaine de Nerleux
Delicious sparkling wine made in the traditional method
from Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay.
2 bottles 2008 Touraine Sauvignon, Domaine du Clos Roussely
Stunning Sauvignon from a wonderful new discovery, Vincent Roussely.
2 bottles 2008 St Nicolas de Bourgueil ‘Les Rouillières’, Frédéric Mabileau
Lovely ripe and fruity with an excellent balance and flavour.
1 bottle Taylors First Estate Port
The Prestige case [6 bottles] £90.00
[A stunning collection of our vignerons top wines]
1 bottle 2005 Vouvray, ‘Clos du Portail’, Didier Champalou
1 bottle 2007 Chenin Blanc, Saumur, Frédéric Mabileau
1 bottle 2007 Bourgueil ‘ Racines’ Frédéric Mabileau
1 bottle 2007 ‘La Croix de Mission, Domaine des Rochelles, Jean-Yves Lebreton
1 bottle 2007 Chinon, Vieilles Vignes, Philippe Alliet
1 bottle 2007 Coteaux du Layon ‘Les Rouannières’ [50cl], Claude Papin
12 Bottles for the Festive Season £ 125.00
2 bottles 2008 Sancerre ‘Les Pierris’, Domaine Champault
2 bottles 2007 Château de la Roulerie, Chenin Sec, Philippe Germain
2 bottles 2007 Anjou Villages, Domaine des Rochelles, Jean-Yves Lebreton
2 bottles 2008 Chinon, Domaine de la Perrière, Baudry-Dutour
1 bottle 2007 Bourgueil ‘Racines’, Frédéric Mabileau
1 bottle Crémant de Loire Brut, Domaine de Nerleux
1 bottle 2007 Coteaux du Layon-Beaulieu, ‘Clos de la Soucherie’, Claude Papin
1 bottle Taylors LBV 2003 Port
Champagne & sparkling wine
Discount Normal
Crémant de Loire Brut, Domaine de Nerleux £9.75 £10.50
Vouvray Brut, Domaine Champalou £11.25 £12.20
Champagne J.P.Robert Brut £18.95 £20.50
Sweet Wines
The following selection of sweet wines go extremely well with blue cheese, foie gras
and various fruit desserts – why not treat yourself to a bottle or two this Christmas?
2007 Coteaux du Layon Cuvée Prestige, Domaine Ogereau [50cl] £13.85 £14.95
2007 Coteaux du Layon ‘Les Rouannières’ Château Pierre Bise, Claude Papin [50cl] £16.50 £17.85
2006 Quarts de Chaume, Château Pierre Bise, Claude Papin [50cl] £19.75 £22.50
Dry white
Price: Discount Normal
2009 Saumur Blanc, Domaine des Hauts de Sanziers £6.95 £7.70
Dominique Tessier’s lovely ripe Chenin Blanc has a good length
and is most appealing.
2007 Muscadet ‘sur lie’ Pierre de la Grange £7.25 £7.80
Pierre Luneau’s stunning Muscadets go from strength to strength
and this wine has real ripeness and excellent balance.
2008 Touraine Sauvignon, Vincent Roussely £7.50 £8.25
Organically grown from low yields, this lovely ripe Sauvignon
has much more concentration than most from this appellation.
2008 Sauvignon, Domaine de Bablut £7.90 £8.50
Christophe Daviau’s delicious organically produced Sauvignon
is ripe, elegant and has a lovely balance.
2007 Château de la Roulerie, Chenin Sec £9.95 £10.80
Now in the hands of the dynamic Philippe Germain, this famous
old Anjou property has gone through a transformation. This superbly
balanced ripe fruity wine goes well with lightly spiced and oriental food
as well as traditional fish and white meat dishes.
2007 Vouvray Sec, Domaine Champalou £9.95 £10.80
Didier Champalou’s delicious Vouvray has lovely ripe fruit
and great length. It is for wines like this that he is regarded
by many as one of the leading vignerons in this appellation.
2008 Chinon Blanc, Baudry-Dutour £10.25 £11.00
Although predominantly a region for red wines, a number of vignerons
have planted Chenin Blanc with great success, not least Christophe Baudry who has made a delicious ripe and well balanced wine.
2008 Quincy, Domaine des Ballandors £10.25 £11.00
Jean Tatin’s delicious dry zesty and beautifully balanced
Sauvignon is now drinking superbly.
2008 Sancerre ‘Les Pierris’ Domaine Champault £10.50 £11.50
This classic Sancerre from the Champault brothers has a lovely
blackcurrant nose, ripe Sauvignon flavours and is beautifully balanced.
2007 Chenin Blanc, Saumur, Frédéric Mabileau £14.95 £16.20
Frédéric’s fabulous Chenin Blanc is made from old vines vines
which gives it a wonderful concentration and complexity.
It is fermented in oak barrel and was recently awarded the Liger d’Or.
Red wine
Price: Discount Normal
2008 Saumur Rouge, Domaine des Hauts de Sanziers £6.95 £7.70
A ripe and fruity Cabernet Franc from Dominique Tessier – this
wine has an elegance and nice balance
.
2007 Anjou Rouge, Domaine Ogereau £7.80 £8.50
Easy drinking, fruity and with a nice concentration, Vincent Ogereau’s
latest vintage is fantastic value.
2008 Touraine Gamay, Domaine du Clos Roussely £7.50 £8.25
Delicious fruity Gamay from low yields grown organically
by this exciting young vigneron.
2008 Chinon, Domaine de la Perrière £8.50 £9.25
Baudry-Dutour's lovely 2008 is packed with ripe fruit
- it has a glorious nose of violets and a lovely balance.
2008 ‘Les Rouillères’ St Nicolas de Bourgueil £9.50 £10.30
Frédéric Mabileau’s delicious 2008 is rich ripe and elegant
with an excellent balance.
2008 Domaine de Nerleux, Saumur Champigny £8.75 £9.50
The highly regarded Thierry Germain has made a delicious
Champigny this year, full of ripe fruit and charm.
2007 Domaine des Rochelles Anjou Villages £9.75 £10.50
Jean-Yves Lebreton has produced a wonderful wine made from
Cabernet Franc – it has a lovely concentration concentration and length.
2007 Bourgueil ‘Racines’ £11.95 £12.95
Frédéric Mabileau is recognised by his peers as one of the finest vignerons in the Loire valley and his 2007 Bourgueil, made from old vines, has lovely ripe fruit and a very good length and concentration enhanced
by careful ageing in oak.
2008 Sancerre Rouge ‘Les Pierris’ £10.75 £11.60
Delicious Pinot Noir from the Champault brothers with good balance and drinking well.
2007 Chinon ‘ Vieilles Vignes’ Philippe Alliet £15.25 £16.50
Stunning wine from very old vines and aged in new oak .Lovely rich and concentrated. Another fabulous wine from Chinon’s greatest wine maker.
Winter at RSJ Restaurant
Wine Tastings with Dinner (3 courses) Start 7.15pm
Monday 23rd November ‘The 2008 Vintage’ £45.00
Reduced yields but producing wines with great maturity and breadth. With the notable exception of the sweet wines from Anjou, 2008 can be considered a better vintage than 2007.
Why not come along and introduce yourself to the delights of the 2008 vintage and taste some stunning Chinons from Baudry-Dutour (Christophe Baudry and Jean-Martin Dutour) as well as Jean Tatin’s terrific Quincy, the Champaults delicious Sancerre and various other delights.
Monday 18th January ‘ Cellar Raid’ £45.00
We will be tasting some wines from the RSJ archives – details to be posted on website in due course
Club discount applies to wine events. Don’t forget to mention your club discount when eating in the restaurant!
For reservations please contact:
tom.king@rsj.uk.com tel: 020 7928 4554
RSJ Restaurant 33 Coin Street London SE1 9NR
Italian Sunday lunches at RSJ
Enjoy the Italians’ well loved dishes covering the length and breadth of Italy – full of diversity and a
great taste experience!
Crostine alle Olive - Umbrian Olives are famous and full of flavour –with Porcini mushrooms they make a delicious combination.
Rotolo di Spinaci – Emilia Romagna is well known for its pasta and as a gastronomical capital – fresh handmade pasta rolled with spinach & ricotta.
Polpetti di melanzane – Roman aubergines are special and this is a great example – herbs & pineuts with an infusion of mozzarella and tomato.
Costaletti di Tonno – Sicilian Tuna with capers, marinated with lemon and herbs, this has a classic sweet and sour flavour.
Cipollini alla Fontina From the Val d’Aosta – little onions with parsley.
Torino ‘home of chocolate’ – This luxury desert chocolate salami served with homemade ice cream using of course, Italian eggs.
Sunday 24th January ‘The Magic of Venice’ £30.00
A Venetian culinary experience – full details to be posted on the website in due course
For reservations please contact:
tom.king@rsj.uk.com tel: 020 7928 4554
RSJ Restaurant 33 Coin Street London SE1 9NR
Sunday, November 8, 2009
2009 Loire: Christophe Daviau happy with result
Christophe: "We finished on Thursday 29th October when we were still enjoying the summer weather. I'm very glad that we finished then as we have subsequently had quite a lot of rain. On the Friday it was still fine and summery but it got very humid on Saturday and we had rain on Sunday 1st November and we continued to have rain during this week.
Although we will obviously have to see what the wine is like once it has finished fermenting, I'm very happy with the Coteaux de l'Aubance. The last tri of Grandpierre was 19% potential. I'm also happy with the Anjou Blanc sec. For the reds the quality is good but it would have been good to have had about 10hl/ha more. I haven't done the calculation yet but I estimate that the yield for the red was around 30hl/ha."
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Anjou tasting and dinner: 19th October
Notes from the tasting:
Aperitif
2008 Anjou Blanc Sec Domaine Ogereau, Vincent Ogereau
Made from 70% Chenin and 30% Chardonnay, this is the least convincing wine in the normally exemplary Ogereau portfolio. Not that it is badly made, it is just that a Chenin/Chardonnay blend works tends to work better as sparkling rather than still. I fancy that this would be a more successful wine if it was pure Chenin.
Whites:
2007 Château de la Roulerie Chenin Sec, Anjou Blanc Philippe Germain 2004 £10.75
Savennières Clos le Grand Beaupréau Vincent Ogereau n/a
1991 Anjou Blanc Sec Chauvigné Didier Richou n/a
replaced by:
2005 Les Rogeries, Anjou Blanc Sec, Domaine Richou
Served with roast skate wing, cod brandade, crab bisque
Unfortunately the 1991 Chauvigné was completely stuffed – oxidised. It would have been fascinating to taste this as 1991 is now very rare because a single April frost reduced the overall crop to a third of normal. It was swiftly replaced by the 2005 Les Rogeries, which perhaps needed time to open up. On this occasion the 2005 was rather dumb – very much in contrast to the 2004 which I drank in May, which was then sensational – rich, complex and balanced with clean acidity.
Reds:
2007 Gamay, Anjou Gamay, Château Pierre-Bise
Replaced the 1997 Gamay, Anjou Gamay Château Pierre-Bise, which was unfortunately corked.
2007 La Croix de Mission, Domaine des Rochelles, Jean-Yves and Anita Lebreton
2006 Anjou Villages Vincent Ogereau 2005 Les Jeunes Vignes des Gelinettes, La Ferme de la Sansonnière, Mark Angeli
Served with: Roast saddle of English lamb, French beans, Chantenay carrots, fricassée of wild mushrooms, new potatoes
This was a very interesting range of reds unfortunately again disrupted because of a problematic bottle – this time the cork. Possibly, of course, that the oxidation of 1991 Richou was due to a faulty cork but difficult to establish. The 2007 Papin Gamay was attractive on its own – soft red fruits and quite marked acidity but without sufficient concentration to partner the lamb. Had the 1997 not been corked I think this would have fared better with the lamb.
I thought the 2007 La Croix de Mission was showing extremely well – not a heavyweight but good ripe red and black fruits and well balanced. Yet another example of how having a good site in a difficult year can make all the difference, especially where Cabernet Sauvignon is concerned in Anjou. The concentrated and powerful 2006 Anjou Villages Domaine Ogereau was the favoured wine in this series, although less clear cut than the white trio. Ideally the 2006 need another couple of years or so to further soften up. Drink the 2007s while you wait.
Mark Angeli's 2005 Gelinettes is certainly a petit bête – almost opaque, very concentrated, quite toasty and very tannic. It needs a lot of time and I have to wonder whether Mark didn't push the extraction too far or may be it just needs time. If I didn't know mark reasonably well I might accuse him of making a wine to attract the attention of a certain US wine critic but I'm sure that wasn't in his mind. To be fair to Mark his 2005 showed much better with the lamb.
Sweet:
2008 Coteaux du Layon Rochefort Château Pierre-Bise, Claude Papin
Served with: pear and almond tart with saffron ice cream
2008 is a difficult or perhaps unfulfilled sweet wine vintage in that everything was looking promising until the end of October and then frequent rain took over in November. Wines from grapes picked early have a lot of charm and purity but they don't have the complexity or concentration of a good Layon vintage. Enjoy them as an aperitif or with a variety of rich dishes but not with dessert. Also drink them young. 2007 in contrast is a lovely sweet wine vintage. There are wines here that really will go the distance.