21st May: Wine Tasting & Dinner at RSJ Restaurant: Amélie Neau

Monday 21st May: Amélie Neau – Domaine de Nerleux, Saumur

Starts at 7.15 pm    £48.50

We are delighted that Amélie Neau has agreed to come over and and present the wines from the historic Domaine de Nerleux in Saumur.

Amélie is the 9th generation of vigneron and with her father Regis, is making three different cuvées of fabulous reds along with dry whites, sweet whites and their renowned sparkling Crémant de Loire. We will also be tasting their 1995 ‘Les Châtains’.

Amelie speaks very good English having lived in this country for a while and it is sure to be a terrific evening.

These wines will be accompanied by a three course dinner.

For bookings please contact:

RSJ Restaurant

33 Coin Street

London

SE1 9NR

Tel: 020 7928 4554

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

Sébastien Treuillet: profile of our producer of Pouilly-Fumé

Sébastien Treuillet in one of his parcels of vines in AC Pouilly-Fumé

Sébastien Treuillet is the first in his farming family to be a vigneron, previously they have been cereal producers. Indeed Sébastien still looks after 140 hectares of cereals in addition to his 12 hectares of vines. The majority of his vines are in the Pouilly-Fumé appellation but he also has 3.5 ha in the Coteaux du Giennois and 2 hectares of vin de pays. 

"I started to get into vines and wine when I was around 15 as I had a friend in Sancerre whose family were vignerons and I would go and stay there," Sébastien explains. "After working in Sancerre for Pierre Dézat (Verdigny) and then the Champaults (Champtin) I started up on my own in 1991."  

He has a number of different parcels on different soils – argile-kimmeridgean, sandy soils as well as some caillottes – limestone dominated with very little soil. On the argile-kimmeridgean soils Sébastien is unusual in using the Courson-Royat pruning system, which he finds keeps the yields down, whereas on his more sandy soils he has the Guyot system, which is classic in this area (see photo above). 

Vines pruned using the Courson-Royat system 

Recently Sébastien has been able to plant vines at Villiers where a considerable area of potential vineyard has become available in the north east of the appellation not far from the well established Château Favray. He is one of a number of vingnerons, including Alexandre Bain, who are now planting there. Much of this new vineyard is bare limestone – cailottes. 

 Bare limestone soil@Villiers 

Eight day old vine amongst the rocks 

Back at Sébastian's winery in Fontenille we tasted the recently bottled 2011 Pouilly-Fumé. "I haven't need to chaptalise since 2004," says Sébastien with some pride. "This 2011 reached 13% natural alcohol on an average of 60 hl/ha." This grassy 2011 has attractive weight and richness – very much in the style of 2011 – but with some freshness in the finish. We then moved onto the 2010, which is again characteristic of this vintage, much more austere and leaner with a long, precise and clean finish. Once again I think 2011 will be an easy vintage to sell because it is more flattering, while Loire fanatics are likely to prefer the austerity of 2010.   

Sébastien Treuillet

Fontenille

58150 Tracy-sur-Loire

Tel: 03.86.26.17.06

Email: domainetreuillet@orange.fr 

  

   

  

Italian Sunday lunches at RSJ: two with a southern Italian flavour

 Ursula Ferrigno

We still have places available for these lunches – please advise if you would like to attend and have not already done so.

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 – 11th March and 29th April. 

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.

Some of Ursula's students – last June

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.

           

RSJ Restaurant

33 Coin Street,

London   SE1 9NR

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

News flash: Noël Pinguet leaves Domaine Huet

Noël Pinguet in London: June 2009 

In a shock development Noël Pinguet is leaving Domaine Huet. There are reports of disagreement with Anthony Hwang, the majority owner of the domaine, although this has been played down by their American importer. Noël has been in charge of this world class estate since 1976.

More details here.