Saumur tasting this evening

Antoine Foucault: one of Saumur's young stars

With two changes the wines to be tasted this evening are as listed on Saturday's posting. The three whites will be:

2007 Régis Neau, Domaine de Nerleux
2004 Antoine Foucault Domaine du Collier
2007 Insolite Thierry Germain, Domaine des Roches Neuves

Followed by five Saumur-Champignys:

2006 Jean-Pierre Chevallier, Château de Villeneuve
2005 Philippe Vatan, Château de Hureau
2005 Clos des Chatains Régis Neau, Domaine de Nerleux
2005 Vieilles Vignes Jean-Pierre Chevallier, Château de Villeneuve
2002 Marginale, Thierry Germain, Domaine des Roches Neuves

Partnered with:

Fresh scallops with a cod branade

Duo of roast guinea fowl with a confit guinea fowl leg

George's pudding surprise

Saumur tasting Monday: 4 places left

Four places left for the Saumur tasting and dinner on Monday (19th January) starting at 7.30. £45 per person.

Saumur consistently produces some of the best reds and whites of the Loire and we will be showcasing some of the best.

Although the list of wines has yet to be finalised, this is what we will be tasting with some minor tweaks still possible.

We will kick off with a welcoming glass of Régis Neau's Crémant de Loire, the RSJ's best selling sparkling wine.

Then we'll have three Saumur Blancs – three from these four:

2007 Régis Neau, Domaine de Nerleux
2004 Antoine Foucault Domaine du Collier
2007 Insolite Thierry Germain, Domaine des Roche Neuves
Les Cormiers, Jean-Pierre Chevallier, Château de Villeneuve

Followed by five Saumur-Champignys:

2006 Jean-Pierre Chevallier, Château de Villeneuve
2005 Philippe Vatan, Château de Hureau
2005 Clos des Châtains Régis Neau, Domaine de Nerleux
2005 Vieilles Vignes Jean-Pierre Chevallier, Château de Villeneuve
2002 Marginale, Thierry Germain, Domaine des Roche Neuves

Menu:

Fresh scallops with a cod branade

Duo of roast guinea fowl with a confit guinea fowl leg

George's pudding surprise


To book your place please contact Nigel or Tom on 020-7928 4554.

Ian Smallridge, Prestige Vintners

We have just heard the very sad news that Ian Smallridge of Prestige Vintners died this morning. Ian had been ill for some time – first with cancer and then a heart problem.

Ian was a Loire great enthusiast and imported wines from many of the leading growers Huet, Couly-Dutheil and Lame Delisle Boucard (Domaine des Chesnaies, AC Bourgueil). Despite dealing with Loire producers over many years, Ian never learnt to speak French, he left that to his wife Therese. He was a good friend of and frequent visitor to the RSJ.

He was also a lover of fine fino from Jerez., especially Inocente from Valdespino. Even on trips to the Loire Ian would make sure he took along a few bottles with him.

Ian was a man of great charm – one of nature’s gentlemen. Our thoughts are with Therese and his family.

Prestige Vintners
Lake Tawstock. Barnstable

2009: proper cold winter

Saint-Georges-sur-Cher: frost on the vines this morning

Many of the recent winters in the Loire Valley have been mild. Instead the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009 has seen extended cold weather. The current spell started around Christmas and shows no sign at the moment of lifting. Indeed today it is colder, although bright, than previous days. Overnight in the Cher Valley it was around minus 7 and around 10am still only -5.5˚C. The temperature is unlikely to rise above zero today despite bright sunshine. It is a little warmer in Saumur-Anjou – around - 4 early this morning.

This prolonged cold is good news for the vignerons as it helps to kill unwanted bugs and diseases in the vineyards.