20th July: ‘Summer Spectacular’ tasting

Wines to be tasted:

Nigel will be making his final selection over the weekend. However, these two are definite:

The late Didier Dagueneau in September 2007

2004 Pur Sang 2004, Pouilly-Fumé, Didier Dagueneau

Christophe Baudry@the Baudry-Dutour winery

1989 Domaine de la Perrière, Chinon, Jean and Christophe Baudry

Both wines are in magnum

The menu:

Salmon ravioli with baby spinach and pea velouté

Roast saddle of Suffolk lamb
Fondant potatoes, baby carrots, French beans
Red wine jus

Lemon curd tart with Chegworth Valley strawberries and clotted cream.

Montlouis: new name on the list and other recent additions

Stéphane Cossais
(Click on name above for more details from Jim’s Loire)

Not José Mourinho but Stéphane Cossais

We think Montlouis is currently one of the Loire’s most exciting appellations. Much of the excitement comes from a series of outsiders who have set up here. We are delighted to have the stunning 2005 Le Volagre from Stephane Cossais (wonderful purity – almost Burgundian in flavour, balance and weight) on the restaurant wine list for £35.95. Nigel will be ordering shortly some Montlouis from Stéphane’s mate Frantz Saumon.

Didier Dagueneau: September 2007

Other new arrivals include 2004 Buisson Renard Pouilly Fumé (£45.99) from the late Didier Dagueneau and from François Cotat in Sancerre 2004 Les Mont Damnés and 2004 Le Cul de Beaujeu both at £35.95.

Didier Dagueneau dies in air accident

Didier at Saint-Andelain September 2007

Didier, perhaps the most famous and certainly one of the Loire’s best producers, was killed yesterday (17th September) in a microlite aircraft accident in the Dordogne. He was 52. Didier made his reputation with his Pouilly-Fumés, which completely transcended this all too often disappointing appellation. Later he bought a vineyard in Jurancon and then a small parcel of vines on Les Monts Damnés in Chavignol. It is believed that he had recently bought more vines in Sancerre.

Didier died when his microlite (ULM) stalled just after take off some 50 metres up and crashed to the ground and was engulfed in flames. The accident happened some 35 kilometres east of Angoulême.

Our condolences to Didier’s family.