RSJ Autumn Mixed Case Wine Offer

2016 harvest – pickers in Le Clos, Vincent Roussely
(above and below)   

Stunning Sauvignon: £132 per case 
We have put together a a mixed case featuring four different styles of Loire Sauvignon Blanc from four of our favourite growers, all ideal for drinking this autumn.   

Three bottles 2015 Le Clos, Vincent Roussely

Vincent is a dynamic young vigneron based at Angé near to the famous Château de Chenonceau in Touraine. He did part of his training in the New World and came back to take over the family vineyards where he works organically. This wine has lovely freshness and ripe rounded fruit. 

Due to late April frost Vincent has a very small crop in 2016, so we suggested you stock up now!

Three bottles 2015 Sauvignon, Domaine de Bablut, Christophe Daviau
Christophe has been working organically for many years at the beautiful family property in Anjou. His delicious Sauvignon has real elegance and quality and has long been a wine in great demand by RSJ members.

Three bottles of Pouilly-Fumé, Domaine Treuillet

Sébastien Treuillet has a small property at Fontenille near Pouilly-sur-Loire. He makes wonderfully intense Pouilly-Fumé with a lovely minerality. His wines have had a terrific following at RSJ since we started importing him four years ago. 

Three bottles 2015 Sancerre, Les Pierris, Domaine Roger Champault et fils

Laurent and Claude Champault have been running their family domaine in Champtin, near Crézancy for a number of years since taking over from their father Roger. Their Sancerre has a lovely concentration and real elegance. 

The Nerleux Case: £120 per case 
We have also put together a mixed case of red, white and sparkling wines from the Neau family, who own the beautiful Domaine de Nerleux at St-Cyr-en-Bourg just outside the historic town of Saumur. Amélie has joined her father Régis and they make consistently excellent wines, which we have listed at RSJ for a number of years. 

5 bottles 2015 Saumur Blanc (Chenin Blanc), Domaine de Nerleux

2 bottles 2014 Saumur-Champigny (Cabernet Franc)

2 bottles 2014 Clos des Chatains, Saumur-Champigny (old vines - Cabernet Franc)

2 bottles Crémant de Loire, La Folie des Loups (sparkling)

1 bottle Crémant de Loire Rosé (sparkling)

Awesome Anjou: £138 per case 

The Lebretons of Domaine des Rochelles and Christophe Daviau are both situated close to the historic Château de Brissac in Anjou. We have for this case selected two wonderful organically grown whites from Christophe – a lovely elegant Sauvignon and a stylish concentrated Chenin Blanc.  

The stunning reds from Jean-Yves and Jean-Hubert Lebreton are a Cabernet Franc (Breton is the local name) and a Cabernet Sauvignon with 10% Cabernet Franc (La Croix de Mission). Both are from the superb 2014 vintage.    

3 bottles 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Domaine de Bablut

3 bottles Petit Princé, Chenin Blanc, Domaine de Bablut, 

3 bottles Anjou Villages Brissac 'Breton', Domaine des Rochelles, 

3 bottles 2014 La Croix de Mission, Domaine des Rochelles 

To order please contact:

Tom King 

RSJ Restaurant, 33 Coin Street, London SE1 9NR. Tel: 020-7928 4554

Email: tom.king@rsj.uk.com 

    

 

 

RSJ's Great Summer Wine Offer: Stunning Sauvignon + Chinon

Vincent Roussely

Stunning Sauvignon – £126 a case

We have put together a mixed case featuring three different styles of Loire Sauvignon from some of our favourite growers – all ideal for drinking this Summer and beyond.  

4 bottles 2015 Touraine ‘Le Clos’ Vincent Roussely 

Vincent is a dynamic young vigneron based at Angé in Touraine's Cher Valley.

He did part of his training in the New World and came back to take over family vineyards where he works organically. This wine has a lovely freshness and ripe rounded fruit.

Vincent's wines have been hugely popular since we started importing from him four years ago.

4 bottles 2015 Sauvignon Domaine de Bablut, Christophe Daviau 

Christophe has been working organically for many years at the beautiful family property in Anjou  His delicious Sauvignon has a real elegance and quality and for many years it has been a wine in great demand with RSJ customers.

4 bottles 2015 Quincy Domaine des Ballandors, Jean Tatin & Chantal Wilk

Jean & Chantal’s ever-popular Quincy has a lovely clear cut minerality and is beautifully balanced. This appellation [the 2nd oldest after Châteuneuf du Pape] has become increasingly fashionable in recent years and Jean & Chantal’s wines are right at the top of the tree.

 Christophe Daviau

Jean Tatin testing the grapes 

•••

‘Chinon Selection’  £ 126.00 per case – Domaine de la Noblaie

We have also put together a mixed case case of Red White and Rosé from outstanding young vigneron, Jérôme Billard of Domaine de la Noblaie.

Jérôme worked at Chateau Pétrus and also Dominus in California, two of the world’s great domaines before returning home to Chinon where he has transformed the family vineyards. He is working organically and has received great plaudits for the outstanding quality of his wines.

6 bottles 2014 Chinon Rouge, Le Temps des Cerises
4 bottles 2015 Chinon Blanc, La Noblaie
2 bottles 2015 Chinon Rosé, Goutte de Rosé 

Jérôme Billard, Domaine de la Noblaie 

To order please contact:

Tom King:

tom.king@rsj.uk.com

RSJ Restaurant, 33 Coin Street, London, SE1 9NR
Tel: 020-7928 4554 

 

  

RSJ Summer Sauvignon Special

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 Sauvignon Blanc and a few raindrops

 

Mixed case offer: £120.00 per case

We have put together a mixed case featuring 4 different styles of Loire Sauvignon from 4 of our favourite growers – all ideal for drinking this Summer and beyond!

3 bottles 2012 Touraine ‘Le Clos’  Domaine Roussely, Vincent Roussely

Vincent is a dynamic young vigneron based at Angé in Touraine. He did part of his training in the New World and came back to take over family vineyards and works organically. This wine has a lovely freshness and ripe rounded fruit. His wines have been hugely popular since we started importing from him 3 years ago.

3 bottles 2012 Sauvignon, Domaine de Bablut, Christophe Daviau

Christophe was one of the first vignerons in the Loire to work organically and he has since started working biodynamically. Christophe also had a spell working in Australia in the 1990’s. This Sauvignon has a lovely refined elegance.

3 bottles 2012  Sancerre ‘Les Pierris’, Roger Champault et Fils

Roger’s sons, Laurent & Claude, have taken over the running of this family property at Champtin in Sancerre and have scaled new heights with this delicious wine full of ripe fruit and a lovely balance.

3 bottles 2012 Pouilly Fumé, Domaine Treuillet, Sebastien Treuillet

Sebastien has only a few hectares of vines but is rapidly establishing himself as a real star in this famous appellation and this wine has picked up numerous awards and commendations at wine fairs and tastings this year.This wine has a lovely clearcut minerality and is beautifully balanced.

To order please contact: 
tom.king@rsj.uk.com 

RSJ Restaurant, 33 Coin Street , London , SE1 9NR
Tel: 020 7928 4554

RSJ Wine Offer: April 2012

Jérôme Billard@Domaine de la Noblaie: June 2011

RSJ's exciting new Chinon listing – one of Chinon's leading young producers

Jérôme takes quality control very seriously! 

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

We include for the first time two wines from Chinon made by a very exciting young grower, Jerome Billard, Domaine de la Noblaie in Ligré, on the south bank of the Vienne.

                                                                    List                             Offer

                                                                    Price                          Price

WHITE

2010 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 a couple of years ago.

2010 Muscadet ‘Sur Lie’ Clos des Allées           £9.70                      £8.95

Pierre Luneau has made a beautifully balanced fruity and mineral flavoured wine from this special vineyard of old vines. 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 Anjou Blanc ‘ Petit Princé’                      £10.65                      £11.25

Superb dry, honeyed and beautifully balanced Chenin.Organically produced by Christophe Daviau at the Domaine de Bablut. It has a wonderful concentration and complexity.

2010 Quincy , Domaine des Ballandors           £12.20                      £11.25

Award winning Sauvignon from Jean Tatin. This beautifully balanced wine continues to go from strength to strength.

2010 Sancerre ‘Les Pierris’                         £12.50                         £11.55

This classic Sancerre from the Champault brothers has a lovely blackcurrant nose, elegance and wonderful balance.

SPARKLING!

Crémant de Loire, Domaine de Nerleux        £11.30                         £10.40

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

Crémant de Loire Rosé, Domaine de Nerleux £11.30                      £10.40  Lovely pink sparkler from Régis Neau

RED

2010 Touraine Gamay, Clos Roussely            £8.70                           £7.95

Vincent Roussely’s organically made Gamay has lovely fruit with a good concentration and balance.

2010 Chinon Domaine de la Noblaie                £9.75                          £8.95

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

2010 Saumur Champigny, Domaine de Nerleux  £9.75                   £8.95

The Neau’s ever popular fruity Champigny is stylish and has a lovely elegance.

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

Frédéric Mabileau’s delicious St Nicolas has had a great following for a number of years. Ripe, beautifully balanced and with a lovely concentration, this wine is made organically.

2010 Sancerre Rouge ‘Les Pierris’                        £12.95               £11.95

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

ROSÉ

2011 Chinon Rosé, Domaine de la Noblaie           £9.25               £8.55

Delicious dry rose from exciting new discovery,Jérome Billard. It is packed with ripe fruit and has a lovely concentration.

RSJ  33 Coin Street London SE1 9NR   

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

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

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 28th  September 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.

   

Christophe Daviau: Domaine de Bablut: Tuesday 9th March

 

Some of the Daviau vineyards (foreground) in the Coteaux de l'Aubance 

There are still a few places for the tasting dinner on Tuesday evening with Christophe Daviau. Christophe is one of the leading growers in Anjou and his vineyards are now run biodynamically. 

We will be tasting a range of Christophe's wines including a rare 1989 white Anjou plus starting with his 2009 Sauvignon Blanc – an early opportunity to look at a 2009. Full details here.

To reserve your place, please contact Tom King on 020-7928 4554 or tom.king@rsj.uk.com

Forthcoming events@RSJ Restaurant

Wine tastings with three course dinner starting@ 7.15pm

Tuesday 9th March:   Christophe Daviau, ‘Domaine de Bablut’              £45.00

Christophe Daviau is one of the leading growers in Anjou. The Daviau family have been involved with wine in Brissac-Quince since 1546. Christophe, who worked in Australia for some time, has been making wine organically for a number of years and has now embraced biodynamics. He makes really elegant Sauvignon as well as lovely reds from Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, dry whites from Chenin Blanc and delicious sweet wines:  Coteaux de l’Aubance.

 

He speaks good English (with a few Australian expressions) and this promises to be a really enjoyable evening.

Tuesday 13th April: Jean-Pierre Chevallier & Yannick Amirault    £45.00

We are delighted that Jean-Pierre Chevallier from Câateau de Villeneuve (Saumur Champigny & Saumur) and Yannick Amirault (Bourgueil & St Nicolas de Bourgueil) will be presenting their wines for a tasting and dinner. Both Jean-Pierre and Yannick are meticulous producers and this is shown by the consistently excellent quality of their wines year in year out.

Tuesday 11th May: Frédéric Mabileau & Vincent Roussely £45.00

Frederic and Vincent have agreed to team up to present their wines at RSJ in May. Frederic (Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Bourgueil, Saumur and Anjou) is an old friend of ours, having attended the 10th anniversary of the restaurant when he was a very young man. He has been making outstanding wines in his own right for the past 15 years. Vincent is a new  and very successful addition addition to the RSJ list – his Touraine wines went on last year and immediately proved very popular.

For reservations please contact: 

Tom King on tom.king@rsj.uk.com

tel: 020 7928 4554


RSJ Restaurant
33 Coin Street
London
SEI 9NR

Spring at the RSJ Restaurant

We have put together the following programme of wine tastings and Italian Sunday lunches for the early part of 2010.

Wine Tastings with Dinner (3 courses) start 7.15pm
Tuesday 9th March    ‘Christophe Daviau , Domaine de Bablut’ £45.00

Christophe is one of the leading growers in Anjou. The Daviau family have been involved in wine in Brissac-Quince since 1546. Christophe, who worked in Australia for 18 months before  returning to Bablut, has been making wine organically for a number of years and has now embraced biodynamics.

He makes a really elegant Sauvignon as well as lovely reds from Cabernet Franc, dry whites from Chenin Blanc and delicious sweet wines, Coteaux de l’Aubance. He speaks good English (with a few Australian expressions!)  and this promises to be a really enjoyable evening.

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
Our Spring 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 21st March  ‘Lombardy’       £30.00

Lombardy is the richest of all the regions of Italy. It accounts for a third of all Italian exports but not dominated by industrial sites – not a ‘smoky Italian monster’ (Ursula).

The basin of the River Po is an immense flat plain with green fields alternating with wheat, maize and rice. The food of this region is as fascinating as the landscape – rich cheeses and butter as well as mushrooms and truffles. Ursula’s menu this month reflects this diversity.

Minestrone alla Milanese     -  There are so many versions of this heart warming winter soup – rich with vegetables and a classical broth.Risotto alla Milanese –  This fabulous risotto was shown to Ursula by renowned chef Fulvio de Santa from the famous restaurant Peck in Milan.
Finocchi Gratinati -  Baked fennel, slowly cooked with a subtle flavour.
Polpetti di Funghi -  Mushroom and green bean soufflé.
Pane di Olivio- Olive bread with thyme.
Bonet -  Rum and chocolate custard flavoured with coffee and bitter chocolate and amaretti – light and luxurious!           
Formaggio- Cheese from Lombardy.

Sunday 25th April       ‘The magic island of Sardinia’                    £30.00
A Sardinian culinary experience –  full details to be posted on the website in due course

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.

For reservations please contact: tom.king@rsj.uk.com  tel: 020 7928 4554
RSJ Restaurant  33 Coin Street  London  SE1 9NR

Christophe Daviau, Domaine de Bablut – changed from 8th to 9th March

Due to opera-rational reasons the tasting - dinner with Christophe Daviau, Domaine de Bablut has been changed from Monday 8th to Tuesday 9th March.

Christophe is one of the leading growers in Anjou. He is an acknowledged authority on sweet wines – a walk in the vineyard with Christophe at harvest time is fascinating as he explains the various stages of noble rot. The Daviau family has been involved in wine in Brissac-Quincé since 1546. Under Christophe the Bablut estate has embraced biodynamics.

Details of this special evening will be sent out as soon as possible.

30th anniversary events: Christophe Daviau (Domaine de Bablut) 8th March 2010

Christophe Daviau

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.

Domaine de Bablut: Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard

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.

Bablut: Chenin Blanc for Coteaux de l'Aubance developing noble rot: mid-October 2009