30th anniversary dinner: 11th October

Cheers with a glass of Régis Neau's Crémant de Loire

RSJ's 30^th Anniversary Dinner
Monday 11^th October 2010

RSJ's upstairs restaurant was packed last night for this celebratory dinner. The kitchen marshalled by veteran chef, Ian Stabler, were on top form. Also all the wines showed well with some particular stars.

Ian Stabler keeping a customary low profile but certainly producing the goods

Aperitif:

Crémant de Loire, Domaine de Nerleux, Régis Neau
Régis is one of the producers we have worked with for many years. His softly delicious Crémant is 70% Chenin and 30% Chardonnay and spends two years on its lees.
 
White:

1993 Montlouis Sec, Dominique Moyer
This was the big surprise of the night. Still very youthful, clean floral, buttery flavours with long, precise finish. Developed well in the glass. Was a fine match with the crab. 

1998 Saumur Blanc, ‘Les Cormiers’ Jean-Pierre Chevallier

From one of our favourite Loire producers, this was more golden than the 1993 Montlouis and richer, fine but not the best match with the crab.  

2004 Pouilly Fume ‘Pur Sang’ [Magnum] Didier Dagueneau
A sad reminder of how good a producer the later Didier Dagueneau was, this had lovely clean, precision and minerally length. A very good match with the crab.

Interesting that all three whites come from what are often termed difficult vintages. This is a reminder that the best dry white Loires often come from the cooler summers.

            Tian of Cornish crab watercress, crostini

Red:

1999 Chinon, Vieilles Vignes, Domaine de la Perrière, Christophe Baudry
Another star of the evening – soft and wonderfully delicate red fruits, 1999 was initially an unheralded vintage that is now showing very well. A really classic Chinon that showed really well with the duck.

1989 Anjou Villages, Vincent Ogereau 

In contrast to 1999, this was a very hot year – a glorious summer and autumn to celebrate the bicentennary of the French Revolution. This had richer fruit – leather, spice and fig.   

Sancerre ‘La Perpétuelle’, Claude & Laurent Champault

This was a fascinating treat and probably the first time that La Perpétuelle has been drunk in the UK. This is made by the solera system, better known for its use in sherry. Claude and Laurent have just one 600 litre barrel of this wine, which they started in 1995 – filling it with 1995 red Sancerre (Pinot Noir). In 1996 they took a third out and bottled it, topping the barrel up with 1996 Sancerre red. Unlike in sherry they keep the barrel topped up to prevent oxidation. Just 280 bottles of this wine are produced a year. Our thanks to Claude and Laurent for their generous gift.

Gressingham duck breast & confit leg,

Hisby cabbage, carrots, boulangere potatoes

Red wine jus

Sweet wine:

9] 2005 Coteaux de l’Aubance ‘Grandpierre’, Domaine de Bablut, Christophe Daviau            
Christophe is another producer we have worked with for many years. This sweet wine is richly citric,  with some luscious concentration and the mineral character that marks the single-vineyard, Grandpierre. Although it held its own reasonably well with the dessert, this is still probably best drunk on its own.            

Apple & Hazelnut torte

RSJ Wine Offer Autumn 2010

Bunch of Cabernet Franc in Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil

A small selection of seasonal wines for drinking this autumn

DRY WHITE:                        Please feel free to mix cases!             List                  Offer
Price               Price

2009 Saumur Blanc, Domaine de Nerleux                                                               £8.25               £7.65
Regis Neau’s delicious dry Chenin Blanc has loads of ripe fruit and a very nice concentration and balance.

2009  Touraine Sauvignon, Domaine du Clos Roussely                                  £8.50               £7.85
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 Sauvignon, Domaine de Bablut                                                               £8.70               £7.95

Wonderful organically produced Sauvignon from our old friend Christophe Daviau. It has real elegance with a lovely concentration.

2008 Muscadet Sur Lie  ‘ Le Clos des Allees’                                                                £9.20               £8.50
Pierre Luneau has a great reputation as probably the leading grower in this region. His ‘Clos des Allees’ from an individual parcel of old vines has excellent ripe fruit and a lovely minerality.

2009 Chateau de la Roulerie,  Anjou Blanc, Chenin Sec                                      £11.50             £10.65
The  new vintage of Philippe Germain’s lovely Chenin has recently arrived and has a really attractive nose, ripe fruit and is beautifully balanced. Delicious with Oriental food as well as traditional European cuisine.

2008 Le Petit Princé, Anjou Blanc Chenin Blanc                                                   £11.50            £10.65
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.

2008 Sancerre, ‘Les Pierris’                                                                                   £12.50             £11.55
The Champault brothers, Laurent & Claude, make this wonderful Sancerre which has a classic Sauvignon flavour and great character.

SPARKLING WINE: 

Cremant de Loire, Domaine de Nerleux                                          £10.75             £9.95
Lovely dry fruit sparkler from Regis Neau made in the traditional method from Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay.

ROSE:

2009 Rosé de Loire, Domaine Ogereau                                                         £8.30               £7.50
Delicious dry fruity Rose from our old friend, Vincent Ogereau. Made from Gamay and Grolleau.

RED WINE:

2009 Saumur Rouge, Domaine des Hauts de Sanziers                                 £8.15               £7.50
Dominique Tessier’s Cabernet Franc has lovely ripe mouthwatering fruit with a good weight and fresh finish.

2008 Touraine Gamay, Domaine du Clos Roussely                                       £8.50               £7.85
Vincent Roussely’s Gamay has a lovely weight and concentration with very ripe fruit and a long finish.

2009 Chateau de la Roulerie, Anjou Rouge,                                                £9.35               £8.65
Philippe Germain’s latest Anjou Rouge has superb fruit and an excellent balance. Drinking really well!

2008 Chinon, Domaine de la Perrière                                                          £9.70               £8.95
Christophe Baudry & Jean-Martin Dutour’s delicious Chinon is drinking exceptionally well and has a very good balance and lovely aroma of violets.

2009 Saumur Champigny, Domaine des Roches Neuves                            £10.15             £9.25
This superb Champigny made by Thierry Germain is full of ripe Cabernet fruit with a lovely concentration and flavour.

2008 Bourgueil, ‘Racines’                            ’                                               £13.25             £12.25
Frederic Mabileau’s classic Bourgueil made from old vines is aged for 11 months in 4-year old oak barrels and has subtle flavours of sandalwood and black fruits.Beautifully balanced and delicious!

2005 Petra Alba, Domaine de Bablut                                               £13.50             £12.50
Wonderful ripe Anjou Villages from a great vintage. Grown organically on clay & limestone soil and matured for 18 months, It has rich ripe intense fruit with a lovely concentration.

RSJ
33 Coin Street
London                       Tel:- 020 7928 4554  
SE1 9NR                    E-Mail:- tom.king@rsj.uk.com    E&OE

Italian Sunday lunch with Ursula Ferrigno: Sunday 7th November

Ursula revealing the secrets of making pasta

As many of you know, Ursula is soon heading off to Australia to live
but we are delighted that she will be doing an Italian Sunday lunch here at the beginning of November
[possibly her last but who knows with Ursula!]

‘Sicilian family favourites’
£30.00

Crisp and flavoursome herb semolina bread rolls
served with roasted aubergine peppers

Fresh and succulent swordfish
with mint and lemon dressing

Fresh ravioli,  pine nuts, cherry tomatoes
and  a hint of chilli

Baked fennel in a parcel with lemon
and mixed leaves

Orange and cinnamon cheesecake
With bitter chocolate sauce

Sicilian cheese with honey and pear


Cookery tuition
There will be a limited number of places available in the kitchen
to learn from and to assist Ursula in the preparation
of this food [£30.00 per person ]

For reservations please contact:

tom.king@rsj.uk.com

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

Forthcoming events at RSJ Restaurant

 Wine Tastings with Dinner          Start 7.15pm
Monday 11th October:   30th Anniversary Dinner £55.00

The RSJ Restaurant opened in 1980 and we are holding a special dinner to celebrate 30 years. We will be featuring a four course dinner and various vintages from three decades including  magnums of 1989 St Nicolas de Bourgueil ‘Cuvee Prestige’ from Jean-Paul Mabileau and 2004 Pouilly Fume ‘Pur Sang’ from the late great Didier Dagueneau. Nigel will also tell a few of the more amusing anecdotes involving life at the restaurant during this period!

Monday 15th  November:
The Magnificent  2009 Vintage      £45.00

 We will be tasting a number of wines from the much vaunted 2009 vintage Including some stunning Saumurs both red and white as well as Jean Tatin’s highly praised Quincy, some delectable Chinons
and St Nicolas de Bourgueil from Frederic Mabileau all in conjunction with a three course dinner.

Italian Sunday Lunches with Ursula Ferrigno As many of you will know, Ursula will soon be departing to live in Australia. She is hoping to finalise a date or two before her departure but a few last minute complications have meant that we are awaiting her confirmation on these. We will keep you informed as soon as we have these dates confirmed.


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