RSJ news

Ursula Ferrigno Italian Sunday Lunches at RSJ: Spring 2012 programme

2012-01-27T23:23:00.001Z

Ursula Ferrigno

Our Spring schedule of lunches with the passionate Italian cook, prolific food writer and personality, Ursula Ferrigno commences with the following dates at the RSJ Restaurant. Starting at 1.00pm these events will include a glass of wine on arrival.

Sunday 11th March ‘ Puglia ’ £30.00

Cavollo nero & white bean soup with aromatic oil of the region served with crisp homemade semolina rolls

Soffiante light pancackes that are distinctive of this beautiful region, encasing wild mushrooms with herbs & ricotta

Seafood al a cartoccio – a mixture of clams, prawns with lemon &parsley, squid & mussels baked in a bag

Chargrilled radicchio & endive with a fruity dressing

Orange & almond torta with cinnamon syrup

Seasonal cheeses

Sunday 29th April ‘ Bountiful Basilicata ’ £30.00

Mixed crostini with roasted vegetables & caramelised red onion with young pecorino

Fennel ravioli with saffron sauce – made with Italian eggs

Marinated swordfish with caper &mint sauce – this meaty fish is stunning when grilled!

Young spinach and potato salad with a balsamic reduction

Chocolate mousse torta served with nutty meringues

Seasonal & specially selected cheese from this distinctive region – we often serve the cheese with fruit & honey if appropriate

We have a few places –strictly limited – for anyone who wishes to assist Ursula during the morning, making bread, pasta soup and sauces associated with these lunches.* This cookery tuition will cost each person an additional £30.00.

RSJ Restaurant

33 Coin Street,

London SE1 9NR

Tel : 020-7928 4554
E-mail: tom.king@rsj.uk.com

Monday 30th January: Bourgueil and Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil: wines for the tasting

2012-01-26T08:22:00.000Z

2011 harvest@La Butte (Jacky Blot) grapes arriving at the sorting table

Wines to be tasted on Monday evening:

Aperitif:

Crémant de Loire, Domaine de Nerleux

Then to taste:

2010 Chenin des Rouilleres, Frédéric Mabileau, Anjou

2010 'Les Rouilleres', St Nicolas de Bourgueil, Frédéric Mabileau

2008 'La Coudraye', Bourgueil, Yannick Amirault

Starter [to be advised] with:

2009 'La Mine, St Nicolas de Bourgueil , Yannick Amirault

2010 'La Pied de la Butte', Bourgueil, Jacky Blot

Then to taste:

2009 Eclipse, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Frédéric Mabileau

1989 'Les Perrieres', Bourgueil, Pierre Breton

Main Course with:

2008 'Le Grand Clos', Bourgueil, Yannick Amirault

October 2011: Frédéric Mabileau in his winery with a very young 2011 wine

Bourgueil and Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil: tasting and dinner – Monday 30th January

2012-01-11T13:07:00.002Z

Bunch of grapes on roundabout: Bourgueil

Early 2012 at RSJ Restaurant

We kick off our 2012 tasting dinners' programme with a look at the twin appellations of Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil.

This will be an opportunity to taste some really interesting wines from this attractive region of the Loire, including wines from stellar vignerons, Yannick Amirault, Pierre Breton and Frédéric Mabileau who are lifting the winemaking in the region to new heights. Amongst the wines to be tasted will be the 1989 Bourgueil ‘Les Perrières’ from Pierre Breton as well as other good vintages from the past 20 years.

Wine tasting with three-course dinner starts 7.15pm. £48.65 per person.

For reservations please contact Tom King: tom.king@rsj.uk.com

Tel: 020-7928 4554

RSJ Restaurant

33 Coin Street

London

SE1 9NR

A bottle fountain in the centre of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil

Alex Cano: new head chef@RSJ

2011-12-23T08:45:00.001Z

Alex Cano: our new head chef

After six years working for the Gastro-pub group ETM, Alex Cano, who originally hails from Columbia, has joined the RSJ as our new head chef. London pubs in the ETM group include The Gun, Empress of India, The Botanist and the Chiswell

"Alex joined us in November and I'm really pleased with the way that he has coped. It is never easy coming into a restaurant kitchen just before the Christmas rush and I am delighted that Alex has handled it so well."

Alex in less serious mood!

Touraine East and West – report on tasting

2011-11-24T21:51:00.000Z

2009 Les Pichiaux, Touraine Sauvignon, Noëlla Morantin

Monday’s tasting and dinner presented a ‘natural wine’ challenge in the shape of Noëlla Morantin’s 2009 Touraine Sauvignon ‘Les Pichaux’ (£12.95)

Overall the theme was Touraine East and West, although the balance of wines was rather more east (6) to west (3).

2010 Le Clos, Touraine Sauvignon, Domaine du Clos Roussely

The aperitif was Vincent Roussley’s 2010 ‘le Clos’ Sauvignon Blanc (£8.75). This is a modern Touraine Sauvignon with attractive grapefruit and other citric flavours, some palate weight and the quite marked acidity in the finish, which is characteristic of the 2010 vintage. Vincent’s wines continue to be consistently good and offer very fair value.

Noëlla’s 2009 Sauvignon caused the assembled tasters to lose their bearings with little or none of the stereotypical characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc. Instead ‘Les Pichaux’ has some oxidative and leesy characters from its long fermentation and maturation. For me Noëlla’s wines fall well within the acceptable side of my continuum of drinkability. However, the vast majority present weren’t convinced.

I kept some of Les Pichaux for a good hour and it certainly changed in the glass with the oxidative character lessening. Instead developing an aroma of bread pudding. I fancy that this may well need to be decanted. Clearly some experimentation is required.

2010 3 Coteaux Chinon Blanc, Baudry-Dutour

Then we moved onto a trio of Chenins. The 2010 screcwapped 3 Coteaux Chinon Blanc (£11.95) from Baudry-Dutour is light and lemony with an austere finish – probably good with shellfish.

2010 Les Dix Arpents, Domaine de la Taille aux Loups

Jacky and Joëlle Blot’s long and minerally 2010 Les Dix Arpents Montlouis, Domaine de la Taille aux Loups was many people’s favourite white. Although this is the Blots entry level Montlouis it still underlined the quality of the wines they are making.

2009 Vouvray Champalou

The 2009 Vouvray Sec from Domaine Champalou (£11.95) was the richest of the whites tasted showing the fuller character of the 2009 vintage and also doubtless having a little more residual sugar than the other whites. It attracted some followers, although Le Dix Arpents was judged to be the complex wine.

2009 Racines, Bourgueil, Frédéric Mabileau

Frédéric Mabileau’s 2009 Racines Bourgueil (£13.75) comes from a one hectare plot on clay and gravel at Chouzé-sur-Loire, a commune by the Loire and to the south of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil. Frédéric’s grandfather planted the vines here over 45 years ago. It has attractive spicy, youthful fruit with some opulence. Best drunk I think over the next three or four years rather than for long aging, where Frédéric’s L’Eclipse Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil from the limestone coteaux is a much better bet if looking for a wine to lay down.

2008 KO, Thierry Puzelat

Thierry Puzelat’s 2008 KO Vin de table Français (£13.75) proved to be popular with its sous bois and farmyard character. I suspect that a number of Australian winemakers, looking for squeaky clean wines would dismiss this as technically faulty. However, it think it works and is drinking well now. The wines sold under the Thierry Puzelat name are négociant wines made from grapes bought from producers who have a similar approach to organic viticulture as Thierry. The Domaine du Tué-Bouef is the family estate in Les Montils, where Thierry and his elder brother, Jean-Marie, work together.

1997 Cuvée Prestige, Domaine du Bourg, Jean-Paul Mabileau

The 1997 Cuvée Prestige, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil from Domaine du Bourg, Jean-Paul Mabileau, Frédéric’s father had aged well with its sweet evolved fruit – an elegant, complex and delicate wine. Often when tasting Jean-Paul’s wines when they were young, particularly when tasted alongside Frédéric’s they seemed rather thin and weak. But they had a deceptive power with the ability to take on more weight with a few years in bottle and to age well. This 1997 is showing well now and, although I don’t think it will get better, it will still last a few more years.

2008 Anthologie du Clos, Vincent Roussely

We finished with the 2008 Anthologie du Clos from Vincent Roussely (£9.95), which is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Côt. Like several 2008s it is quite edgy at the moment needing more time for the acidity and tannins to soften down. It also needs food and showed well with the tasty game casserole served as main course.

Touraine East & West: RSJ tasting and dinner on Monday 21st November

2011-11-19T13:50:00.002Z

Frédéric Mabileau with 2011 Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil

Wines and menu for Monday nights event:

Aperitif:

2010 Touraine 'Le Clos' Sauvignon, Vincent Roussely

White:

2009 Sauvignon 'Les Pichiaux', Noëlla Morantin

2010 Chinon Blanc 3 Coteaux Baudry- Dutour

2009 Vouvray Sec Catherine and Didier Champalou

2010 Montlouis 'Les Dix Arpents' Domaine de la Taille aux Loups, Jacky Blot

Reds:

2009 Bourgueil 'Racines' Frédéric Mabileau

1997 St Nicolas de Bourgueil 'Cuvée Prestige' Jean-Paul Mabileau

2008 Anthologie du Clos, Vincent Roussely

2008 Touraine KO 'In Cot We Trust', Thierry Puzelat

Menu:-

Pan seared fillet of Sea Bass, lobster & salmon tortellini bisque, wilted red chard

Game casserole, truffle mash, winter vegetable crisps

Plus one of George's finest desserts when he has decided!

RSJ Christmas Wine Offer 2011

2011-11-11T14:38:00.009Z

Vincent Roussely (Touraine)

The following wines are a special selection from the extensive RSJ Wine list and are offered at a discounted rate until the end of the year. We have already put together a number of ‘mixed cases’ but please feel free to mix your own cases if you prefer.

To order: tel 020-7928 4554 e-mail: tom.king@rsj.uk.com

A box for Christmas Day £ 57.00

1 bottle Crémant de Loire Brut, Domaine de Nerleux

Delicious dry sparkling wine made in the traditional method from Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay.

2 bottles 2010 Touraine Sauvignon, Domaine du Clos Roussely

Stunning Sauvignon from a wonderful recent discovery, Vincent Roussely.

2 bottles 2009 Anjou Rouge, Domaine Ogereau

Lovely ripe and fruity with an excellent balance and flavour.

1 bottle Taylors First Estate Port

Ripe well structured port from this famous house.

The Prestige case [6 bottles] £90.00

[A stunning collection of our Vignerons top wines]

1 bottle 2003 Le L’d’Or Muscadet, Vieilles Vignes

Pierre Luneau

1 bottle 2009 ‘Petit Princé’ Chenin Blanc

Christophe Daviau

1 bottle 2009 St Nicolas de Bourgueil ‘Eclipse’

Frédéric Mabileau

1 bottle 2008 ‘Evanescence’ Anjou Villages

Yves Guégniard

1 bottle 2009 ‘La Croix de Mission’ Anjou Villages

Jean-Yves Lebreton

1 bottle 2009 Coteaux du Layon ‘Les Rouannières’ [50cl]

Claude Papin

12 Bottles for the Festive Season £ 137.00

2 bottles 2010 Sancerre ‘Les Pierris’

Domaine Champault

2 bottles 2010 Chateau de la Roulerie, Chenin Sec

Philippe Germain

1 bottle 2008 Anjou Villages

Vincent Ogereau

2 bottles 2009 Chinon, Domaine de la Perrière

Christophe Baudry

2 bottles 2010 St Nicolas de Bourgueil ‘ Les Rouillères’

Frédéric Mabileau

1 bottle Crémant de Loire Brut

Domaine de Nerleux

1 bottle 2007 Coteaux du Layon ‘Clos de la Soucherie’

Claude Papin

1 bottle Taylors LBV 2004 Port

Champagne & Sparkling Wine

Crémant de Loire Brut, Domaine de Nerleux 11.30 (Normal) £10.40 (Discount)

Crémant de Loire Rosé, Domaine de Nerleux 11.30 £10.40

Vouvray Brut, Domaine Champalou £13.45 £12.15

Champagne J.P.Robert Brut £21.50 £19.50

RED WINE

2010 Saumur Rouge, Domaine des Hauts de Sanziers £8.70 (Normal) £7.95 (Discount)

A ripe and fruity Cabernet Franc from Dominique Tessier – this wine has an elegance and nice balance

2010 Touraine Gamay, Domaine du Clos Roussely £8.70 £7.95

Delicious fruity Gamay from low yields grown organically by this exciting young vigneron.

2009 Anjou Rouge, Domaine Ogereau £9.25 £8.55

Easy drinking, fruity and with a nice concentration, Vincent Ogereau’s latest vintage is fantastic value.

2009 Chinon, Domaine de la Perrière £9.95 £9.20

Christophe Baudry’s lovely 2009 is packed with ripe fruit – it has a glorious nose of violets and a lovely balance.

2010 ‘Les Rouillères’ St Nicolas de Bourgueil £11.20 £10.35

Frederic Mabileau’s delicious 2009 is rich ripe and elegant with an excellent balance.

2010 Saumur Champigny Dom. des Roches Neuves £11.75 £10.85

The highly regarded Thierry Germain has made a delicious Champigny this year, full of ripe fruit and charm.

2009 Anjou Villages ‘Breton’ Domaine des Rochelles £11.95 £11.05

Jean-Yves Lebreton’s excellent 2009 is packed with wonderful fruit and is superbly balanced.

2009 Sancerre Rouge ‘Les Pierris’ £12.95 £11.95

Delicious Pinot Noir from the Champault brothers with good balance and drinking really well.

2010 Bourgueil ‘Racines’ £13.75 £12.75

Frédéric Mabileau is recognised by his peers as one of the finest vignerons in the Loire valley and his 2010 Bourgueil, made from old vines, has lovely ripe fruit and a very good length and concentration enhanced by careful ageing in oak.

2008 ‘Evanescence’ Anjou Villages £15.70 £14.50

Yves Guegniard has produced a wonderful wine made from Cabernet Franc – it has a lovely concentration and length.

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?

2009/10 Coteaux du Layon, Domaine Ogereau £13.25 (normal) £12.25 (discount)

2007 Coteaux du Layon, ‘Soucherie’ Claude Papin [50cl] £15.75 £17.05

2009 Coteaux du Layon ‘Les Rouannières’ Claude Papin [50cl] £18.25 £16.85

2006 Quarts de Chaume, Château Pierre Bise [50cl] £22.95 £21.25

DRY WHITE

2010 Saumur Blanc, Domaine des Hauts de Sanziers £8.70 (Normal) £7.95 (discount)

Dominique Tessier’s lovely ripe Chenin Blanc has a good length and is most appealing.

2010 Touraine Sauvignon, Vincent Roussely £8.70 £7.95

Organically grown from low yields, this lovely ripe Sauvignon has much more concentration than most from this appellation.

2010 Sauvignon, Domaine de Bablut £8.95 £8.25

Christophe Daviau’s delicious organically produced Sauvignon is ripe, elegant and has a lovely balance.

2009 Muscadet Vieilles Vignes, ‘Le Clos des Allées’ £9.75 £8.95

Pierre Luneau’s stunning Muscadets go from strength to strength and this wine from a special site has real ripeness and excellent balance.

2009 Petit Princé Chenin Blanc Dom. de Bablut, 11.95 £11.05

Christophe Daviau’s lovely Chenin Blanc is made organically and is bottled on the lees. It has a wonderful concentration and complexity.

2010 Château de la Roulerie, Chenin Sec £12.10 £11.15

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.

2009 Vouvray Sec, Domaine Champalou £12.10 £11.15

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 the leading vigneron in this appellation.

2010 Quincy, Domaine des Ballandors £12.15 £11.25

Jean Tatin’s delicious dry zesty and beautifully balanced Sauvignon is now drinking superbly.

2010 Sancerre ‘Les Pierris’ Domaine Champault £12.75 £11.85

This classic Sancerre from the Champault brothers has a lovely blackcurrant nose, ripe Sauvignon flavours and is beautifully balanced.

2010 Pouilly Fumé, Domaine Treuillet £12.95 £11.95

Superbly balanced Pouilly from exciting new discovery, Sébastien Treuillet – delicious!

2011 Loire vintage: Chantal Wilk and Jean Tatin (Reuilly and Quincy)

2011-10-30T16:38:00.000Z

Chantal Wilk with the 2011 Reuilly Pinot Gris and Jean Tatin with the 2011 Reuilly Blanc

In early October we dropped in to see Chantal Wilk and Jean Tatin at Domaine du Tremblay. Chantal and Jean have vines in both Reuilly and Quincy. Their 2011 vintage had been more complicated than for Denis, especially in Quincy where they had been hit by hail on 2nd May. Quincy appears to be decidedly susceptible to hail as it often seems to be hit. Perhaps it is a question of storms travelling up and down the Cher Valley.

Jean: "Between 12th July and the end of August we had 200mm of rain, so there was a real threat of rot. Yields for the Reuilly Rouge (Pinot Noir) is 50 hl/ha, while the Sauvignon Blanc for our Reuilly is between 50-55hl/ha. We picked the white twice – by hand when it was just getting ripe and getting rid of rotten grapes. Then later we went back to pick the ripe and healthy grapes later by machine. we picked between the 10th and 15th September."

'Our Pinot Noir in Reuilly come from a parcel in Preuilly, which the grandfather of my grandmother acquired in 1873. It is planted on gravel, so it produces a light red." In 2010 they planted some Pinot Noir on clay and limestone in the commune of Reuilly itself."

"In Quincy only have 50% of a normal crop. One third of our vines were untouched, while in the remaining two thirds damage ranged from 30%-100%. The storm that hit us on 2nd May travelled across from the south west to the north west. We have only made 10-15 hl/ha in the affected parcels and didn't pick until later – at the beginning of October. The Sauvignon is around 12.7% alcohol with 5.5 acidity. Fortunately we had a good quantity of stock from the 2010 vintage which will make it easier to manage the shortfall in 2011."

RSJ tasting and dinner: cellar raid – 10th October

2011-10-11T21:09:00.001+01:00

Pierre Luneau drawing a sample of his 2011 Muscadet: late September

Brief report on the event

Aperitif:

1] 2010 Rose d’Anjou, Château de la Roulerie, Philippe Germain

White:

2] 2003 Muscadet sur lie Le L’d’Or, Pierre Luneau £12.25

3] 1997 Vouvray Sec, Domaine Champalou, Didier Champalou

4] 1989 Montlouis Sec, Dominique Moyer

Cauliflower risotto with pan-seared scallops

Red:

5] 2000 Saumur Champigny, Domaine des Roches Neuves, Thierry Germain

6] 2000 Saumur Champigny, Terres Chaudes, Thierry Germain

7] 1996 Anjou Villages, Domaine des Rochelles, Jean-Yves Lebreton

8] 1989 Chinon, Domaine de la Perrière, Christophe Baudry

Featherblade of beef, carrots, green beans, mashed potato

9] 1995 Vouvray Cuvée Moelleuse, Didier Champalou

A selection of cheeses

Tom King’s comments following the tasting:

L' d'Or 2003 was nicely balanced and still remarkably fresh.

1997 Vouvray Champalou was quite dark colour and ageing fairly quickly [a touch of maderisation] - a '97 lacking the acidity of some other vintages.

(Jim: acidity was quite low in many 1997s.)

1989 Montlouis Moyer - 2nd bottle much better than first - still had a remarkable freshness and nice fruit.

2000 S/C Roches Neuves Domaine - remarkable! drinking really well with lovely balance and good fruit – the surprise of the evening.

2000 Terres Chaudes - very good - obviously more weight than above with good structure - a number of years ahead still.

1995 Anjou Villages Rochelles - wonderful sweet fruit - really delicious.

1989 Chinon Domaine de la Perrière - good but rather surprisingly overshadowed by other reds - showing signs of ageing and seemed to be just past its peak.

(Jim: perhaps not that surprising given that this is the easy drinking early bottled cuvee. A bottle of the Vieilles Vignes drunk in August was magnificent.)

1995 Vouvray Moelleuse - lovely balance - nice rich pure chenin - showing very well with the blue cheeses.

2011: un année des bonnes vignerons – sorting out the sheep from the goats

2011-10-10T07:36:00.000+01:00

The Luneau family: Monique, Pierre-Marie, Marie Chartier (now married to PM) and Pierre

Early reflections on the 2011 vintage

There is no doubt that this is a complicated and for some a difficult vintage in what has been a bizarre year, which has seen some of the earliest picking dates ever.

There are likely to be wide variations in quality as well as considerable variations from region to region depending on when the grapes were picked as there were big variations in the weather during the harvest. This looks to be a vintage where the serious and good producers win out.

The beginning of the growing season saw a very warm and dry March, April, May and early June. This lead to an exceptionally early flowering with some vines beginning to flower in the first ten days of May. Normally flowering takes place occasionally in late May and more normally in June. Comparisons were being made with 1893, which was an exceptionally early vintage. It looked like many areas would be starting the harvest from mid-August.

Despite predictions of a long hot summer, the weather went into reverse in July, which was cold and wet. August was little better, although there was a brief hot spell. This both slowed down grape ripening and brought the threat of rot.

However, some producers in Touraine including the Clos Roche Blanche (Friday 26^th) did start harvesting early varieties like Sauvignon in late August.

A visit to Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire at the end of August showed that there was already rot in some parcels affecting both the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

September started unsettled. There was some very heavy rain on 3^rd, which caused flooding in parts of Bourgueil and also affected Saumur. As is often the case it was fairly localized with Chinon, for instance, seeing much less rain.

Picking started in Muscadet at the end of August and in Sancerre/Pouilly from around 5^th September.

Pierre Luneau (Domaine Pierre Luneau Papin) reports that they were badly hit by rot and had to be very careful and selective when picking – throwing about 30% of the crop away. Despite the problems the nascent Luneau wines were as impeccable as ever when we visited them at the end of September.

In the middle of September the weather started to improve dramatically. The last ten days of September and in to the few days of October it was glorious with temperatures rising to 32˚C – astonishingly warm for this of year.

This burst of fine weather changed the vintage for those who had been able to wait, in particular Chinon where many producers didn’t start picking their reds until around 26^th September.

2011 looks to be very good for sweet wines in Anjou. We were in the Quarts de Chaume on 28thSeptember and the grapes looked magnificent – a mix of noble rot and passerilage. We saw Claude Papin picking in Chaume, where the grapes were already coming in at 26% potential alcohol. Claude told his pickers to include golden grapes that would be normally left to ripen later, so as keep the potential alcohol down a little and ensure that the wines did end up too sweet.

In Anjou many good producers were waiting until the first week of October to start on their Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon to give them time to ripen fully.

Christophe Daviau picked his Cabernet Sauvignon for Rocca Nigra on Monday and Tuesday (3^rd and 4^th) of last week and finished picking his Chenin last Wednesday (5^th October). He will pick his Cabernet Franc for Petra Alba on Tuesday and Wednesday – and that will be it.

Italian Sunday lunch with Ursula Ferrigno: Sunday 6th November

2011-10-05T07:21:00.000+01:00

Ursula demonstrating the art of pasta making

Sunday 6^th November - Autumn around Italy £30.00

[Date postponed from October 2nd]

Sweet & sour little onions with sweet black grapes served with Tuscan casa lingala bread

Light & luscious ravioli with herbs and pecorino [ from Sardinia ]

Swordfish cigars with caper and olive pine nuts in a light tomato sauce [from Sicily ]

Roasted vegetable salad with artichokes [ from Campania ]

A selection of Cheese

Fig and lemon tart

If anyone would like to assist and learn from Ursula in the kitchen, there will be a limited number of spaces available at £30.00 a head.

For reservations, please contact:

Tom King

RSJ Restaurant

33 Coin Street

London SE1 9NR Tel: 020 7928 4554 e-mail: tom.king@rsj.uk.com

2011 Loire vintage: news from our producers: les Champaults (Sancerre)

2011-09-27T09:39:00.000+01:00

Claude and Laurent Champault with their 2011 Sancerre

Roger Champault et fils: Claude and Laurent Champault

Claude: "We were surprised by how well the vintage turned out because before the start we were worried by rot. We picked the reds first – those of the hillsides (clay and limestone) were healthy, while on the caillottes (pure limestone) there was more rot. The Pinot is around 11.5% potential alcohol with just under 5 acidity, while the Sauvignon is between 12.5-13.5%. Yields – 50 hl/ha for the Pinot and 65 hl/ha for the Sauvignon."

Autumn tasting and dinner dates

2011-09-17T16:26:00.000+01:00

Autumn colours in the Layon Valley

Wine tasting with three course dinner

Both events start at 7.15pm

Part of the cellar...

Monday 10th October ‘Cellar Raid’ £48.65

We will be looking at both red and white wines from our archives from the past two decades including:

1997 Vouvray Sec, Catherine and Didier Champalou

1995 Cuvée Moelleuse, Catherine and Didier Champalou

2000 Saumur Champigny, ‘Terres Chaudes', Thierry Germain

1989 Chinon, Vieilles Vignes, Domaine de la Perrière, Jean & Christophe Baudry

Jean-Paul Mabileau picking Chenin Blanc for Frédérick Mabileau's Saumur Blanc

Monday 21st November ‘ Touraine East to West’ £48.65

An opportunity to taste some really interesting wines from this attractive region of the Loire including wines from Bourgueil and St Nicolas de Bourgueil as well as exciting growers such as Vincent Roussely and Thierry Puzelat who are lifting the wine making in the region to new heights. Amongst the wines to be tasted are Puzelat’s ‘In Cot We Trust’ and Jean-Paul Mabileau’s 1997 St Nicolas Cuvée Prestige.

For reservations, please contact:

Tom King

RSJ Restaurant

33 Coin Street

London SE1 9NR
Tel: 020-7928 4554 e-mail: tom.king@rsj.uk.com

Italian Sunday Lunch with Ursula Ferrigno: Sunday 2nd October

2011-09-14T10:24:00.002+01:00

Ursula with a tray of tomatoes

Autumn around Italy £30.00:

Sweet & sour little onions with sweet black grapes served with Tuscan casa lingala bread

Light & luscious ravioli with herbs and pecorino from Sardinia

Swordfish cigars with caper and olive pine nuts in a light tomato sauce from Sicily

Roasted vegetable salad with artichokes from Campania

A selection of cheese

Fig and lemon tart

If anyone would like to assist and learn from Ursula in the kitchen, there will be a limited number of spaces available – £30.00

For reservations, please contact:

Tom King

RSJ Restaurant

33 Coin Street

London SE1 9NR
Tel: 020-7928 4554 e-mail: tom.king@rsj.uk.com

Central Vineyards tasting and dinner: Monday 12th September

2011-09-07T10:56:00.000+01:00

Some of the vineyards of Sancerre viewed from the town looking towards Chavignol

We will be tasting the following wines. Menu to follow soon.

Aperitif:

2009 Esprit du Clos, Touraine Sauvignon, Vincent Roussely

Whites:

2010 Menetou-Salon, Champault

2010 Reuilly Les Lignis, Les Desmoiselles Tatin

2010 Quincy Ballandors, Jean Tatin

2010 Pouilly-Fumé, Sebastien Treuillet

1999 Château de Tracy, Pouilly-Fumé

Reds:

2009 Reuilly 'La Commanderie', Les Desmoiselles Tatin

2010 Sancerre Rouge, Les Pierris, Champault

Perpetuelle Champault

2011 Loire harvest now underway

2011-09-03T10:12:00.000+01:00

Picking 2011 Sauvignon Blanc in the Cher Valley (30th August)

The 2011 harvest is now well underway for the early grape varieties: mainly Sauvignon Blanc plus Chardonnay for sparkling wines. Our friends at the Clos Roche Blanche started on Friday 26th August. This is well in advance of normal – probably around two weeks even three weeks on late starting vintages. The start is not quite as early as was anticipated in early June as July was cold and wet, so slowed everything down.

The fruit in the Cher Valley is looking good at the moment, although the forecast for today is storms and rain is predicted for the early part of next week.

2011 Sauvignon Blanc – Cher Valley

Picking machine in action

Sauvignon Blanc@Noëlla Morantin

Sancerre and Pouilly

Things look a little more complicated in Sancerre and Pouilly with more signs of rot than I saw in the Cher Valley. However, I only had time to have a quick look at the vines in Sancerre and Pouilly nor did I get to parts of the Cher Valley that had very heavy rain in late August.

Ursula Ferrigno: Sunday 14th August – photos

2011-08-25T10:22:00.002+01:00

Ursula – her customary ebullient self

Some photos from the preparations for Ursula Ferrigno's Sunday lunch@the RSJ on 14th August.

Alex now back at the piano after a spell in Australia

A tray of gnocchi

A trio of peppers

Look out for Ursula's autumn programme of Sunday lunches. Details will be available shortly.

Sébastien Treuillet: 2010 Pouilly-Fumé

2011-08-14T21:49:00.001+01:00

The RSJ has recently started to import and list this Pouilly-Fumé from Sébastien Treuillet. Sébastien is a small producer from near Tracy-sur-Loire, who apparently has just three hectares of vines – some in the PF appellation as well as some in the nearby Coteaux-du-Giennois.

We met him because he shares a stand at the Salon des Vins de Loire with the Champaults our Sancerre suppliers.

The 2010 is best not drunk too chilled otherwise its weight and length will be hidden. It has a complex and aromatic nose – some gooseberry, grapefruit and other ripe citric notes – allied with weight and length. Certainly a well-made Pouilly-Fumé.

I plan to be in Sancerre/Pouilly towards the end of August, so may well get the opportunity to visit Sébastien Treuillet then.

Address: 12 Route de Boisfleury, Fontenille, 58150 Tracy-sur-Loire.

Tel: 03.86.26.17.06

Autumn at RSJ Restaurant: Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé etc. 12th September

2011-08-11T08:09:00.000+01:00

**Wine Tasting with Dinner [3 courses]**

Starts 7.15pm

Monday 12^th September ‘Eastern Delights’ £48.65

We will be looking at both red and white wines from the eastern end of the Loire and tasting wines from Reuilly, Quincy, Pouilly, Menetou Salon and Sancerre where Sauvignon and Pinot Noir can be found at their most enticing.

We will feature wines from the Tatin family, the Champault brothers and a new discovery, Domaine Treuillet in Pouilly as well as other distinguished names,

including Chateau de Tracy 1999.

For reservations please contact:

tom.king@rsj.uk.com

Tel: 020 7928 4554

RSJ Restaurant

33 Coin Street

London

SE1 9NR

Tasting of 2010 vintage: 4th July

2011-08-02T17:51:00.000+01:00

2010 harvest@Domaine de la Butte, Bourgueil

This is a rather belated report on a tasting at the RSJ Restaurant on Monday 4th July featuring a range from the 2010 vintage. 2010 is an interesting contrast to 2009. Overall the wines, although they have good fruit, have crisper acidity and a more marked mineral character than the richer 2009.

Growing season of 2010 the Loire divided climatically into two parts: west and east of Tours. To the west it was very dry with some parts of Anjou having virtually no rain in April and May then again in July and August. Over the the whole year Angers had 595mm of rain compared to the average of 647mm. The 2010 total was boosted by high rainfall in November and December. The Pays Nantais had a similarly dry summer. Average temperatures here in 2010 were 16.2˚C exactly in line with the norm average of 16.2˚C. In contrast the average for 2009 was considerably higher at 17.1˚C.

Further east in Bourges the rainfall total in 2010 was 691mm against a norm of 732mm. Although slightly below average, it was well above that of 2009 – 622mm. Average max temperatures in 2010 were 15.6˚C compared to the norm of 15.8˚C. 2010 was much cooler than 16.9˚C.

Aperitif:

2010 Sauvignon, Vin de Pays de la Loire, Domaine de Bablut

This Sauvignon Blanc from Christophe Daviau was for many among their favourite wines of the tasting. It immediately pointed up the difference between the 2009 and 2010 vintages. The 2009 SB Bablut was a fatter, richer wine with more exotic fruit flavours. In contrast, although the 2010 has some weight, it is more mineral and has more marked acidity.

Whites:

2010 AC Touraine Sauvignon, Clos Roussely, Vincent Roussely

Attractive crisp lemony fruit well balanced with mineral acidity. As is often the case the acidity is more marked on the Touraine Sauvignon than those from Anjou. Whites from the clay limestone soils of Saumur and Touraine tend to have higher levels of acidity than those from the impervious rocks and soils of Anjou.

2010 Quincy, Domaine des Ballandors, Jean Tatin and Chantal Wilk

The Ballandors' Quincy is quite lean and citric at present. It may take on more weight over the next few months.

2010 Chenin Blanc, Anjou Blanc, Ch de la Roulerie, Philippe Germain

A change of grape variety here moving from the trio Sauvignon Blancs to Chenin Blanc. Again la Roulerie is quite crisp and lemony at present and may gain weight with a little more time in bottle. I found this showed better with the

2010 3 Coteaux, Chinon Blanc, Baudry-Dutour

An ideal bracing aperitif – very clean citric flavours with light floral. Closed with a screwcap. Tasted without food this was the clear preference amongst the tasters. With the salmon the verdict was less clear cut.

Reds:

2010 Clos de la Bienboire, Château de Villeneuve, Jean-Pierre Chevallier

This was probably the first time this new no sulphur cuvée from Jean-Pierre has been shown at a tasting in the UK. Its attractively soft, bright reds fruits are to be enjoyed now. A wine to drink with friends rather than on to analyse.

2010 Les Rouillères, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Frédéric Mabileau

Showing more concentration than the Bienboire with juicy black fruits to the fore. Can be kept two or three years but very good to drink now and enjoy the youthful fruit.

2010 Anjou Rouge Château de la Roulerie, Philippe Germain

Again black fruits to the fore being from Anjou the tannins are a little more present.

2010 Saumur Champigny, Domaine de Roches Neuves, Thierry GermainBright youthful, vibrant fruit – both red and black fruits. The 2010s from Thierry are a real success.

1996 Chinon Vieilles Vignes, Domaine de la Perrière, Jean & Christophe Baudry
We chose a 1996 to finish as it was our guess as a vintage that may give a clue as to how the 2010 may age. The mid-weight Vieilles Vignes has aged attractively with mature soft, round fruit. Ready to drink now it can be kept a while longer although I doubt if it will improve further.

Starter:

Ballotine of Salmon with cucumber dressing

Main:

Confit Duck leg

Saute potatoes, spinach, braised celery, carrots

Dessert

Griottine cherry and Greek yogurt jelly with whipped cream and shortbread

Ursula Ferrigno: Sunday 14th August

2011-08-02T07:41:00.001+01:00

Ursula Ferrigno

Italian Lunch – Sunday 14^th August

‘Estate Preferiti’

We still have some places available for this event hosted by Ursula Ferrigno.

Miniature rolled herbed omlettes with ricotta and tomatoes

Gnocchi with roasted aubergine and courgettes

Marinated swordfish with lemon and mint

Panzanella salad beans

Three melon sorbet

Specially sourced cheeses

To book – please contact:

Tom King

RSJ Restaurant

33 Coin Street

London

SE1 9NR

Tel: 020 7928 4554

Ursula and her students preparing lunch in June

RSJ Wine Offer July 2011

2011-07-15T11:45:00.011+01:00

Nigel Wilkinson and Vincent Roussely in Vincent's vineyard June 2011

A small selection of seasonal wines for drinking this summer – please feel free to mix cases

DRY WHITE:

A small selection of seasonal wines fordrinking this summer – please feel free to mix cases

DRY WHITE:

List Offer

Price Price

2009 Saumur Blanc, Domaine des Hauts de Sanziers £8.70 £7.95

Dominique Tessier’s delicious dry CheninBlanc has loads of ripe fruit and a very nice concentrationand balance.

2010 Touraine Sauvignon, Domaine duClos Roussely £8.70 £7.95

The highly praised Vincent Roussely makeshis wines organically and are extremely popular. His Sauvignon iscrisp, fresh and has a lovely ripeness and balance..

2009 Muscadet Sur Lie ‘ Le Closdes Allées’ £9.75 £8.95

Pierre Luneau has a great reputation asprobably the leading grower in this region. His ‘Clos desAllees’ from an individual parcel of old vines has excellent ripe fruit and alovely minerality.

2010 Château de la Roulerie, CheninBlanc £12.10 £11.15

Philippe Germain’s latest vintage has a lovely attractive nose,good fruit and anice acidity. Goes very well with exotic and spicy food.

2010 Pouilly Fumé, Domaine Treuillet £12.95 £11.95

Classic Pouilly Fume from an exciting youngvigneron from whom we have just started shipping. An exciting new discovery!

2010 Sancerre, ‘Les Pierris’ £12.95 £11.95

The Champault brothers, Laurent &Claude, make this wonderful Sancerre which has a classic Sauvignon flavour andgreat character.SPARKLING WINE:

Crémant de Loire, Domaine deNerleux £11.30 £10.40

Lovely dry fruit sparkler from Regis Neaumade in the traditional method from Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay.

Crémant de LoireRosé £11.30 £10.40

Regis’ dry pink sparkler has lots of flavour and lovely concentration.

ROSE:

2010 Rosé de Loire , DomaineOgereau £8.70 £7.95

Delicious dry rose, excellent withbarbecues, grilled meats, exotic dishes or just for quaffing.

2010 Chinon Rosé, ‘Cuvée MarieJustine’ £9.60 £8.95

Delicious dry elegant fruity Rose from ourold friend, Christophe Baudry at the Domaine de la Perrière (Baudry-Dutour).

RED WINE:

2009 Saumur Rouge, Domaine des Hauts deSanziers £8.50 £7.85

Dominique Tessier’s Cabernet Franc haslovely ripe mouthwatering fruit with a good weight andfresh finish.

2010 Touraine Gamay, Domaine du ClosRoussely £8.70 £7.95

Vincent Roussely’s Gamay has a lovelyweight and concentration with very ripe fruit and a long finish.

2009 Anjou Rouge, DomaineOgereau £9.25 £8.55

Vincent’s Anjou Rouge has superb fruit and an excellent balance. Very attractive!

2009 Chinon, Domaine de laPerrière £9.95 £9.20

Christophe Baudry & Jean-MartinDutour’s delicious Chinon is drinking exceptionally well andhas a very good balance and lovely aroma ofviolets.

2009 St Nicolas de Bourgueil’ LesRouillères’ £10.95 £9.95

Frederic Mabileau’s delicious ripe StNicolas continues to go from strength to strength. Organically made. Drinking really well!

2010 Saumur Champigny, Domaine des RochesNeuves £11.75 £10.85

This superb Champigny made by French ‘winemaker of the year’ Thierry Germain is full of ripe Cabernet fruit with alovely concentration and flavour.

RSJ

33 Coin Street

London Tel:- 0207928 4554

SE19NR E-Mail:- tom.king@rsj.uk.com E&OE

Ursula Ferrigno's Sunday lunch today with The Wine Detective

2011-06-19T17:22:00.004+01:00

Sarah kneading the pasta

Sarah Ahmed (Portuguese Wine Writer of the Year 2009) and friends headed to the RSJ Restaurant early this morning to help prepare today's Sunday lunch with Ursula Ferrigno.

This is pasta joke...

Seem to have lost the thread here...

Ursula's amused

Forming the bread

George with the bread

Bread takes off

Alex making pasta

Alex adding eggs

Kitchen sink drama

Intense concentration

Working on the pasta

Ursula Ferrigno

Nigel Wilkinson in RSJ's nerve centre

Ursula's Sunday lunches: 19th June and 14th August

2011-06-14T12:50:00.001+01:00

We still have places available for both these lunches

Summer at RSJ Restaurant

Italian Sunday Lunches at RSJ

Our Summer schedule of lunches with the passionate Italian cook, prolific food writer and personality, Ursula Ferrigno continues with the following dates at the RSJ Restaurant. Starting at 1.00pm these events will include a glass of wine on arrival.

Sunday 19^th June ‘Roman Holiday’ £30.00

Fig & rocket bruschetta

Freshly made pasta with broad beans, asparagus, mint and peas

Sea bass with Gaeta olives, cherry tomatoes and fennel

Roasted Roman pepper salad

Chocolate truffle ice cream

Pecorino Romano cheese with apricots

Sunday 14^th August ‘Estate Preferiti’ £30.00

Miniature rolled herbed omlettes with ricotta and tomatoes

Gnocchi with roasted aubergine and courgettes

Marinated swordfish with lemon and mint

Panzanella salad beans

Three melon sorbet

Specially sourced Cheeses

We have a few places [strictly limited] for anyone who wishes to assist Ursula during the morning, making bread, pasta soup and sauces associated with these lunches.*

This will cost each person an additional £30.00 for this cookery tuition.

For reservations please contact:

RSJ Restaurant

33 Coin Street,

London

SE1 9NR

Tel : 020 7928 4554 E-mail: tom.king@rsj.uk.com

Wine offer May 2011

2011-05-23T07:27:00.000+01:00

A small selection of seasonal wines for drinking this summer – please feel free to mix cases

DRY WHITE: List Offer

Price Price

2009 Saumur Blanc, Domaine de Nerleux £8.70 £7.95

Régis Neau’s delicious dry Chenin Blanc has loads

of ripe fruit and a very nice concentration and balance.

2010 Touraine Sauvignon, Domaine du Clos Roussely £8.70 £7.95

We started shipping Vincent Roussely’s wines last year and they

have proved extremely popular. His Sauvignon is crisp, fresh and has

a lovely ripeness and balance. Made organically.

2009 Muscadet Sur Lie ‘ Le Clos des Allées’ £9.75 £8.95

Pierre Luneau has a great reputation as probably the leading

grower in this region. His ‘Clos des Allées’ from an individual parcel of

old vines has excellent ripe fruit and a lovely minerality.

2008 Le Petit Princé, Chenin Blanc £12.10 £11.15

Made by Christophe Daviau from the Domaine de Bablut , this lovely

dry organically produced Chenin Blanc is bottled on the lees and has

a lovely attractive nose, ripe fruit and is beautifully balanced.

2009 Reuilly Blanc, Les Lignis, Les Demoiselles Tatin £12.20 £11.25

This is the first time we have shipped this delightful floral sauvignon

from a new venture in Reuilly [near Sancerre] from our old friend Jean Tatin

An exciting new discovery!

2009 Sancerre, ‘Les Pierris’ £12.95 £11.95

The Champault brothers, Laurent & Claude, make this wonderful Sancerre

which has a classic Sauvignon flavour and great character.

SPARKLING WINE:

Crémant de Loire, Domaine de Nerleux £11.30 £10.40

Lovely dry fruit sparkler from Régis Neau made in the traditional method

from Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay.

Crémant de Loire Rosé £11.30 £10.40

Régis’ dry pink sparkler has lots of flavour and lovely concentration

ROSÉ:

2010 Rosé d’Anjou, Château de la Roulerie £8.70 £7.95

Medium dry rose, excellent with barbecues, grilled meats,

exotic dishes or just for quaffing.

2010 Chinon Rose, ‘Cuvée Marie Justine’ £9.60 £8.95

Delicious dry elegant fruity Rose from our old friend, Christophe Baudry

at the Domaine de la Perriere.

RED WINE:

2009 Saumur Rouge, Domaine des Hauts de Sanziers £8.50 £7.85

Dominique Tessier’s Cabernet Franc has lovely ripe

mouthwatering fruit with a good weight and fresh finish.

2009 Touraine Gamay, Domaine du Clos Roussely £8.70 £7.95

Vincent Roussely’s Gamay has a lovely weight and concentration

with very ripe fruit and a long finish.

2010 Château de la Roulerie , Anjou Rouge £9.35 £8.65

Philippe Germain’s latest Anjou Rouge has superb fruit

and an excellent balance. Very attractive!

2008 Chinon, Domaine de la Perrière £9.95 £9.20

Christophe Baudry & Jean-Martin Dutour’s delicious

Chinon is drinking exceptionally well and has a

very good balance and lovely aroma of violets.

2009 St Nicolas de Bourgueil’ Les Rouillères’ £10.95 £9.95

Frédéric Mabileau’s delicious ripe St Nicolas continues to go

from strength to strength. Organically made.

Drinking really well!

2010 Saumur Champigny, Domaine des Roches Neuves £11.75 £10.85

This superb Champigny made by French ‘wine maker of the year’ Thierry Germain

is full of ripe Cabernet fruit with a lovely concentration and flavour.

RSJ

33 Coin Street

London Tel:- 020 7928 4554

SE1 9NR E-Mail:- tom.king@rsj.uk.com E&OE

Summer at RSJ Restaurant: Italian Sunday lunches

2011-05-22T08:14:00.000+01:00

Our Summer schedule of lunches with the passionate Italian cook, prolific food writer and personality, Ursula Ferrigno continues with the following dates at the RSJ Restaurant. Starting at 1.00pm these events will include a glass of wine on arrival.

Sunday 19^th June ‘Roman Holiday’ £30.00

Fig & rocket bruschetta

Freshly made pasta with broad beans, asparagus, mint and peas

Sea bass with Gaeta olives, cherry tomatoes and fennel

Roasted Roman pepper salad

Chocolate truffle ice cream

Pecorino Romano cheese with apricots

Sunday 14^th August ‘Estate Preferiti’ £30.00

Miniature rolled herbed omlettes with ricotta and tomatoes

Gnocchi with roasted aubergine and courgettes

Marinated swordfish with lemon and mint

Panzanella salad beans

Three melon sorbet

Specially sourced Cheeses

We have a few places [strictly limited] for anyone who wishes to assist Ursula during the morning, making bread, pasta soup and sauces associated with these lunches.* This will cost each person an additional £30.00 for this cookery tuition.

For reservations please contact:

RSJ Restaurant

33 Coin Street,

London

SE1 9NR

Tel : 020 7928 4554

E-mail: tom.king@rsj.uk.com

Jean-Hubert Lebreton: wines for this evening

2011-05-16T07:13:00.000+01:00

Jean-Hubert on his last visit to the RSJ

Aperitif:

2010 Les Rochelles Sauvignon

White [with Starter]

2009 Anjou Blanc Roches des Rochelles

Tian of Crab

Reds: (Anjou-Villages Brissac

2009 Croix de Mission

2008 Les Millerits

2000 Cabernet Franc

1995 Cabernet Franc

Loin of lamb with spring vegetables with 2 wines below:

2009 Breton [Cabernet Franc]

2007 Croix de Mission

Sweet Wine:

2009 Cot de l'Aubance Cuvée Tradition

Strawberry Tart

Monday 16th May: Vigneron Tasting – Jean-Hubert Lebreton £45.00

2011-05-12T18:28:00.000+01:00

Jean-Hubert in La Croix de la Mission vineyard in 2008

We still have a few spaces available for this event

Events at RSJ Restaurant

Wine Tasting with Dinner Start 7.15pm

We are delighted that Jean-Hubert Lebreton from the Domaine des Rochelles

in Anjou will be joining us next Monday evening to show his wines from this famous property.

We will be tasting reds, dry whites and sweet whites as well as a couple of older vintages [1995 and 2000] from the last decade.

He speaks excellent English [having worked in Australia for some time] and this promises to be a wonderful evening.

For event reservations please contact:

tom.king@rsj.uk.com Tel: 020 7928 4554

RSJ Restaurant 33 Coin Street London SE1 9NR www.rsj.uk.com

Spring and early summer events@RSJ Restaurant

2011-03-30T08:59:00.000+01:00

Château de Saumur

Wine Tastings with Dinner Start 7.15pm

Monday 18th April: ‘The splendours of Saumur’ £45.00

We will be tasting wines from the much vaunted Jean- Pierre Chevallier, Thierry Germain, Régis Neau and various other vignerons.

Amongst the wines to be tasted are:

2001 Terres Chaudes (Thierry Germain)

1999 Marginale (Thierry Germain)

1989 Les Châtains (Régis Neau)

Jean-Hubert Lebreton on his last visit to the RSJ

Monday 16th May: Vigneron Tasting – Jean-Hubert Lebreton £45.00

We are delighted that Jean-Hubert Lebreton from the Domaine des Rochelles in Anjou will be joining us this evening to show his wines from this famous property. We will be tasting reds, dry whites and sweet whites as well as a couple of older vintages from the last decade.

Jean-Hubert speaks excellent English [having worked in Australia for some time] and this promises to be a wonderful evening.

Italian Sunday Lunches with Ursula Ferrigno Start 1.00pm

Sunday 8th May: ‘Magical Marche ’ £30.00

Involtini di peperoni –Sweet pepper rolls with olives, pine nuts & anchovies served with home made flat breads

Gnocchi di Ricotta – with gorgonzola sauce

Insalata di Granchi – a famous salad from this stunning region, light refreshing & colourful

Fave con cipollo rosso, salsa di menta – Broad beans with mint and red onion in a lemon and parsley dressing

Torte della mia nonna – A light lemon tart studded with pine nuts and scented with vanilla

Formaggio – A special hand selected cheese from the region with fruit and balsamic jelly

If anyone wishes to assist Ursula in the kitchen, we have a limited number of places available [cost £30.00]

For event reservations please contact:

tom.king@rsj.uk.com Tel: 020 7928 4554

RSJ Restaurant 33 Coin Street London SE1 9NR www.rsj.uk.com

Italian Sunday lunch at RSJ with Ursula Ferrigno: 20th March

2011-03-12T12:48:00.001Z

Ursula rolls out the pasta

There are still places available for the Italian lunch on 20^th March.

If you would like to come, please advise as soon as possible

Italian Sunday lunch at RSJ

with Ursula Ferrigno

[starts at 1.00pm]

‘Enchanted Liguria ’

£30.00

Foccacine with roasted vegetables and grilled goats cheese

Canneloni con frutti di Mare – seafood cannelloni with saffron sauce

Leeks with white beans and a herby dressing

Crunchy leaf salad

Chocolate & hazelnut pudding with white chocolate sauce

Formaggio – the Ligurian cheese

We also have a few places available to learn from and assist Ursula

in the kitchen [£30.00]

For bookings please contact:

Tom King

RSJ Restaurant

33 Coin Street

London SE1 9NR

Tel: 020 7928 4554

E-mail: tom.king@rsj.uk.com

20 years of Chinon: 8th March 2011

2011-03-09T12:51:00.000Z

1990 Clos de l'Echo

Last night we held a dinner and tasting of Chinons stretching from 2009 back to 1990.

Aperitif

2009 Sauvignon Blanc Domaine de Bablut, Vin de Pays

Tighter, more mineral and refreshing but less opulent and exotic than it was last year.

2009 Domaine de la Perrière, Baudry-Dutour
This is Baudry-Dutour's easy drinking cuvée from gravel vineyards close to the Vienne. Attractive red fruits with refreshing acidity.

2009 Chinon Beaumont, Catherine and Pierre Breton

From vineyards on the undulating clay and limestone slopes around Beaumont-en-Vèron. This had considerably more weight than the Perrière – partly due to the different terroir but also from doubtless lower yields. With black fruits and spice, soft tannin, the Beaumont is drinking well now but can be kept for a good five years. I have been critical of some of the Breton wines but this 2009 was showing well.

These two wines were served with a balontine of foie gras & confit of duck with fruit chutney.

Then onto two vintages of Baudry-Dutour's Vieilles Vignes
2006 Vieilles Vignes Domaine de la Perrière, Baudry-Dutour

2002 Vieilles Vignes Domaine de la Perrière, Christophe and Jean Baudry

These, which come from gravel vineyards, showed the importance of vintage in the Loire. The 2006 being fuller and richer with plum and liquorice flavours reflecting the good summer of 2006, which was potentially a very good vintage until the rain and the onset of rot at vintage time meant that the grapes had to be hurriedly gathered in. However, there are some very good 2006s, if not quite at the level of 2005.

2002 was one of those Loire years when September and October saved the vintage after a poor summer. Sunshine and an easterly wind allowed the grapes to ripe and the drying conditions concentrated the grape juice. Less concentrated than 2006 and more in the red fruit spectrum with more present acidity. Like many 2002s it has lovely balance.

Both cuvées are aged in barrique. The 2002 was made before the creation of Baudry-Dutour in 2003.

1999 Coteau de Noire

Next up two wines from Philippe and Claude Alliet. Philippe is a cousin of Christophe Baudry and he set up his domaine in 1985 and is widely acknowledged as one of the top Chinon producers.

1995 Vieilles Vignes

1999 Coteau de Noire, Philippe Alliet

1995 Vieilles Vignes, Philippe Alliet

The Alliets acquired the Coteau de Noire in the early 1990s. On the steep limestone coteau a little to the east of the town of Chinon, the 1999 comes from vines of less than 10 years old and is all the more impressive for this. Elegant concentration, structure and length, this is another example of how well the rather unregarded 1999 vintage is now showing.

Without food the 1995 Vieilles Vignes (from vines on gravel) shows some of the angularity that has been typical of this vintage with present tannins and acidity. With food the sweet, evolved fruit comes through.

1990 Clos de L'Echo, Couly-Dutheil (in magnum)

When this was first opened we were rather concerned that this might be past it, initially light and quite bricky in colour this developed in glass with attractive and charming sweet fruit with a touch of rather grainy tannins. Given that the storage conditions for these two magnums of Clos de l'Echo had not been the best, they were showing pretty well. Doubtless any examples of the 1990 stored at Couly-Dutheil's cellars in Chinon would be more youthful.

Served with braised veal, mashed potatoes, carrots, spinach, red wine jus.

B-D's Chinon Blanc is closed with a screwcap

2009 Chinon Blanc Baudry-Dutour

We created some controversey at the end of the evening by deciding to serve this with the cheese – a Brie de Meaux. Tasted blind few people I fancy would pick this out as Chenin Blanc – many would opt for Sauvignon Blanc with its zippy, grassy, citric fruit although in the finish it does have that characteristic touch of bitterness typical of many Chenins.

Along with a number of the assembled company I thought it went well with the cheese bringing out the wine's fruit, while others thought that it didn't work at all and were rather aghast at the idea of serving white wine with cheese.

20 years of Chinon: 8th March

2011-03-04T11:58:00.003Z

Vines@Cravant-les-Coteaux

Wines for Tuesday's tasting (completely sold out – sorry) are as follows:

2009 Sauvignon Domaine de Bablut (apero)

2009 Chinon Blanc Baudry-Dutour

2009 Domaine de la Perrière, Baudry-Dutour

2009 Chinon Beaumont, Pierre Bréton

2006 Vieilles Vignes Domaine de la Perrière, Baudry-Dutour

2002 Vieilles Vignes Domaine de la Perrière, Christophe and Jean Baudry

1999 Coteau de Noire, Philippe Alliet

1995 Vieilles Vignes, Philippe Alliet

1990 Clos de L'Echo, Couly-Dutheil [Magnum]

RSJ Wine Offer February 2011

2011-02-09T10:10:00.001Z

Vincent Roussely

We have put together a selection of wines ideal for current drinking this Spring. Please feel free to mix cases.

List Offer

WHITE

2009 Saumur Blanc £8.30 £7.65

Domaine des Hauts de Sanziers

Delicious fresh ripe dry Chenin Blanc from our old friend Dominique Tessier who has made a wine with an excellent balance and length.

2008 Muscadet ‘Pierre de la Grange’ £8.70 £7.95

Pierre Luneau has made a beautifully balanced fruity and mineral flavoured wine. At recent tastings, people have been ‘blown away’ by the quality of Pierre ’s wines, completely laying to rest their preconceived notions about Muscadet!

2009 Touraine Sauvignon, Clos Roussely £8.70 £7.95

Lovely fragrant fruity Sauvignon from Vincent Roussely, an outstanding young vigneron, whose wines have been received with great acclaim since we introduced them last year.

2009 Chinon Blanc, Baudry-Dutour £9.70 £8.90

Christophe Baudry has produced a delicious dry Chinon Blanc with a lovely ripeness and balance. Made from the Chenin Blanc grape.

2009 Savennières, Clos de Coulaine £12.50 £11.60

Superb dry, honeyed and beautifully balanced Chenin. Claude Papin continues to make wonderful wines, year after year.

2009 Sancerre ‘Les Pierris’ £12.75 £11.80

This classic Sancerre from the Champault brothers has a lovely blackcurrant nose, ripe Sauvignon flavours and has a good balance.

SPARKLING

Crémant de Loire, Domaine de Nerleux £10.95 £10.15

Regis Neau’s ever popular, delicious dry sparkler is made from 70%Chenin Blanc & 30% Chardonnay and makes a wonderful aperitif!

RED

2009 Saumur Rouge

Domaine des Hauts de Sanziers £8.30 £7.65

Dominique Tessier’s Cabernet Franc has lovely ripe mouthwatering fruit with a good weight and fresh finish.

2009 Anjou Rouge, Domaine Ogereau £8.95 £8.15

Ripe fruity cabernet Franc from the renowned Vincent Ogereau.

2009 Saumur Champigny £9.70 £8.95

Domaine de Nerleux

Delicious ripe fruity Cabernet Franc from Regis Neau. Well balanced with a good length and flavour.

2009 Chinon Domaine de la Perrière £9.70 £8.95

Christophe Baudry’s lovely Chinon is packed with ripe fruit. It has a glorious nose of violets and has a lovely elegance and balance

2008 ‘Anthologie du Clos’ Touraine £9.95 £9.15

Vincent Roussely’s blend of Cabernet & Cot has lovely fruit with a good concentration and balance. Drinking really well!

2008 St Nicolas de Bourgueil £12.50 £11.55

‘Les Coutures’

Frederic Mabileau’s classic St Nicolas, made from old vines is aged for 11 months in 3 year oak barrels and has spicy intense fruit. Awarded the ‘Liger d’Or’ at last year’s prestigious Salon des Vins de Loire.

2009 Sancerre Rouge ‘Les Pierris’ £12.85 £11.90

Made from 100% Pinot Noir, this is an elegant attractive and stylish wine from the Champault brothers.

RSJ

33 Coin Street

London

SE1 9NR

Tel: 020 7928 4554

E-mail: tom.king@rsj.uk.com

‘Enchanted Liguria’ with Ursula Ferrigno: Sunday 20th March

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Italian Sunday Lunch with Ursula Ferrigno

Unfortunately we had to postpone this event in January but we have now been able to reschedule it for March:

Sunday 20th March

‘Enchanted Liguria’

Focaccia with antipasti, marinated squash, peppers and artichokes

Pansotti – fresh pasta filled with herbs and greens, topped with walnut cream sauce

Fritto Misto – mixed seafood including squid and prawns

Insalata Mista – mixed green leaves with a light lemon dressing

Torte – Chestnut and chocolate tart with mascarpone

Ligurian cheese fruit and honey, specially sourced for RSJ

If anyone would like to assist and learn from Ursula in the kitchen, there will be a limited number of spaces available [£30.00]

For reservations, please contact:

Tom King

RSJ Restaurant

33 Coin Street

London SE1 9NR Tel: 020 7928 4554 e-mail: tom.king@rsj.uk.com

Raising money for SCOPE

On the 4th March, George Harvey, our intrepid pastry chef and regular assistant to Ursula for her Sunday lunches, will be heading off to Tanzania to take part in a sponsored climb of Mount Kilimanjaro , in aid of SCOPE the charity that assists people with cerebral palsy and also campaigns on behalf of all disabled people. At a height of nearly 6,000 metres Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa . George is aiming to raise £3,500. If you would like to help in achieving this goal you can donate on-line at www.virginmoneygiving.com/georgeharvey or to find out more about the work that SCOPE does visit www.scope.org.uk Thank you.

Monday's cellar raid tasting and dinner: wines and menu

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Pierre Luneau who supplies the aperitif

Aperitif:

2008 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, Pierre de la Grange, Pierre Luneau

White:

1997 Savennières, Clos de Coulaine, Claude Papin

1996 Saumur Blanc, Domaine de la Paleine

1988 Sancerre, Cotat [Magnum]

Seafood Risotto

Red:

2001 Saumur Champigny, Ch de Villeneuve

1995 Anjou Villages, Lebreton

1989 Les Chatains, Regis Neau

1989 St Nicolas de Bourgueil, Cuvée Prestige, Jean-Paul Mabileau [Magnum]

Braised featherblade of beef, mashed potatoes, carrots, red wine jus

Rum and raisin creme caramel with poached quince

Events at RSJ Restaurant: Winter 2011

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Wine Tastings [including a 3 course dinner]:

Monday 24th January ‘Cellar Raid’ £45.00

We will be bringing out some more interesting older bottles from our archives including 1989 St Nicolas Cuvée Prestige from J-P Mabileau some classic Bourgueil and Saumur Champigny from the 1990’s and Sancerre from the incomparable Cotat domaine.

Tuesday 8th March ‘ 20 years of Chinon’ £45.00

We will be tasting some gems from various vintages from the past two decades featuring wines from Philip Alliet and Christophe Baudry of Domaine de la Perrière.

Italian Sunday Lunches with Ursula Ferrigno

Ursula’s departure from these shores to Australia has unfortunately for her been delayed but we are delighted that it does mean that she is able to do some lunches and cooking for us.

Sunday 23rd January ‘Enchanted Liguria ’ £30.00

Focaccia with antipasti marinated squash, peppers and artichokes.

Pansotti –Fresh Pasta filled with herbs and greens and topped with walnut cream sauce.

Fritto Misto –mixed seafood including squid and prawns.

Insalata Mista-Mixed green leaves with a light lemon dressing.

Torte -Chestnut and chocolate torte with mascarpone.

Ligurian cheese, fruit and honey, specially sourced for RSJ.

Sunday 27th February ‘Hearty cooking from Parma ’ £30.00

The gastronomic capital of Italy

Minestra di Riso e Fagoli – Rice and bean soup - richly flavoured and typically winter warming!

Polenta fritta con erbe aromatiche – Fried Polenta with an aromatic herb sauce.

Spigola filletti- Fillets of seabass.

Insalata di Finnochio e Sedano – Crisp and refreshing salad to end a hearty meal.

Pere Cucinate al Vino Rosso- Oven baked pears in red wine

Parmagiano Reggiano – Parma ’s famous cheese served with honey and fruit.

There will be a few places [strictly limited] to learn from and assist Ursula in the kitchen [price £30.00]

For bookings please contact: RSJ Restaurant

tom.king@rsj.uk.com Tel: 020 7928 4554 33 Coin St, SE1 9NR