23rd November tasting: 2008 vintage – wines and menu

Aperitif

2008 Sauvignon VDP Val du Loire Domaine de Bablut, Christophe Daviau

2008 vintage at Roger Champult et fils

Then:

Whites

2008 Saumur Blanc, Domaine des Sanziers, Dominique Tessier

2008 Touraine Sauvignon, Domaine Roussely, Vincent Roussely

Jean Tatin checking the ripeness of Sauvignon Blanc@Quincy 2008

2008 Quincy, Domaine des Ballandors, Jean Tatin and Chantal Wilk

2008 Sancerre, Les Pierris, Domaine Roger Champault et Fils

Served with:
Seafood ravioli, cauliflower puree, red pepper coulis

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Reds

2008 Cabernet Franc grapes: Saumur-Champigny

2008 Anjou Rouge, Château de la Roulerie, Philippe Germain

2008 Chinon, Domaine de la Perrière, Baudry-Dutour

2008 Saumur-Champigny Domaine de Nerleux, Régis Neau

2008 Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Les Rouillières, Frédéric Mabileau

Served with:
Roast saddle of lamb, honey roast parsnips, broccoli, mashed potato, red wine jus

2008 Pinot Noir, Sancerre (we are not actually tasting a 2008 Loire made from Pinot Noir but thought you might like to see a photo of some)

Dessert
Pear and walnut tart with vanilla ice cream

RSJ's Christmas 2009 wine offer

The following wines are a special selection from the extensive RSJ Wine list and are offered at a discounted rate until the end of the year. We have already put together a number of ‘mixed cases’ but please feel free to mix your own cases if you prefer.

To order: Tel 020 7928 4554 e-mail tom.king@rsj.uk.com

A box for Christmas Day £ 55.00

1 bottle Crémant de Loire Brut, Domaine de Nerleux
Delicious sparkling wine made in the traditional method
from Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay.

2 bottles 2008 Touraine Sauvignon, Domaine du Clos Roussely
Stunning Sauvignon from a wonderful new discovery, Vincent Roussely.

2 bottles 2008 St Nicolas de Bourgueil ‘Les Rouillières’, Frédéric Mabileau
Lovely ripe and fruity with an excellent balance and flavour.

1 bottle Taylors First Estate Port

..

The Prestige case [6 bottles] £90.00
[A stunning collection of our vignerons top wines]

1 bottle 2005 Vouvray, ‘Clos du Portail’, Didier Champalou

1 bottle 2007 Chenin Blanc, Saumur, Frédéric Mabileau

1 bottle 2007 Bourgueil ‘ Racines’ Frédéric Mabileau

1 bottle 2007 ‘La Croix de Mission, Domaine des Rochelles, Jean-Yves Lebreton

1 bottle 2007 Chinon, Vieilles Vignes, Philippe Alliet

1 bottle 2007 Coteaux du Layon ‘Les Rouannières’ [50cl], Claude Papin

12 Bottles for the Festive Season £ 125.00

2 bottles 2008 Sancerre ‘Les Pierris’, Domaine Champault

2 bottles 2007 Château de la Roulerie, Chenin Sec, Philippe Germain

2 bottles 2007 Anjou Villages, Domaine des Rochelles, Jean-Yves Lebreton

2 bottles 2008 Chinon, Domaine de la Perrière, Baudry-Dutour

1 bottle 2007 Bourgueil ‘Racines’, Frédéric Mabileau

1 bottle Crémant de Loire Brut, Domaine de Nerleux

1 bottle 2007 Coteaux du Layon-Beaulieu, ‘Clos de la Soucherie’, Claude Papin

1 bottle Taylors LBV 2003 Port

Champagne & sparkling wine
Discount Normal
Crémant de Loire Brut, Domaine de Nerleux £9.75 £10.50

Vouvray Brut, Domaine Champalou £11.25 £12.20

Champagne J.P.Robert Brut £18.95 £20.50

Sweet Wines
The following selection of sweet wines go extremely well with blue cheese, foie gras
and various fruit desserts – why not treat yourself to a bottle or two this Christmas?

2007 Coteaux du Layon Cuvée Prestige, Domaine Ogereau [50cl] £13.85 £14.95

2007 Coteaux du Layon ‘Les Rouannières’ Château Pierre Bise, Claude Papin [50cl] £16.50 £17.85

2006 Quarts de Chaume, Château Pierre Bise, Claude Papin [50cl] £19.75 £22.50

Dry white
Price: Discount Normal
2009 Saumur Blanc, Domaine des Hauts de Sanziers £6.95 £7.70
Dominique Tessier’s lovely ripe Chenin Blanc has a good length
and is most appealing.

2007 Muscadet ‘sur lie’ Pierre de la Grange £7.25 £7.80
Pierre Luneau’s stunning Muscadets go from strength to strength
and this wine has real ripeness and excellent balance.

2008 Touraine Sauvignon, Vincent Roussely £7.50 £8.25
Organically grown from low yields, this lovely ripe Sauvignon
has much more concentration than most from this appellation.

2008 Sauvignon, Domaine de Bablut £7.90 £8.50
Christophe Daviau’s delicious organically produced Sauvignon
is ripe, elegant and has a lovely balance.

2007 Château de la Roulerie, Chenin Sec £9.95 £10.80
Now in the hands of the dynamic Philippe Germain, this famous
old Anjou property has gone through a transformation. This superbly
balanced ripe fruity wine goes well with lightly spiced and oriental food
as well as traditional fish and white meat dishes.

2007 Vouvray Sec, Domaine Champalou £9.95 £10.80
Didier Champalou’s delicious Vouvray has lovely ripe fruit
and great length. It is for wines like this that he is regarded
by many as one of the leading vignerons in this appellation.

2008 Chinon Blanc, Baudry-Dutour £10.25 £11.00
Although predominantly a region for red wines, a number of vignerons
have planted Chenin Blanc with great success, not least Christophe Baudry who has made a delicious ripe and well balanced wine.

2008 Quincy, Domaine des Ballandors £10.25 £11.00
Jean Tatin’s delicious dry zesty and beautifully balanced
Sauvignon is now drinking superbly.

2008 Sancerre ‘Les Pierris’ Domaine Champault £10.50 £11.50
This classic Sancerre from the Champault brothers has a lovely
blackcurrant nose, ripe Sauvignon flavours and is beautifully balanced.

2007 Chenin Blanc, Saumur, Frédéric Mabileau £14.95 £16.20
Frédéric’s fabulous Chenin Blanc is made from old vines vines
which gives it a wonderful concentration and complexity.
It is fermented in oak barrel and was recently awarded the Liger d’Or.

Red wine
Price: Discount Normal
2008 Saumur Rouge, Domaine des Hauts de Sanziers £6.95 £7.70
A ripe and fruity Cabernet Franc from Dominique Tessier – this
wine has an elegance and nice balance
.
2007 Anjou Rouge, Domaine Ogereau £7.80 £8.50
Easy drinking, fruity and with a nice concentration, Vincent Ogereau’s
latest vintage is fantastic value.

2008 Touraine Gamay, Domaine du Clos Roussely £7.50 £8.25
Delicious fruity Gamay from low yields grown organically
by this exciting young vigneron.

2008 Chinon, Domaine de la Perrière £8.50 £9.25
Baudry-Dutour's lovely 2008 is packed with ripe fruit
- it has a glorious nose of violets and a lovely balance.

2008 ‘Les Rouillères’ St Nicolas de Bourgueil £9.50 £10.30
Frédéric Mabileau’s delicious 2008 is rich ripe and elegant
with an excellent balance.

2008 Domaine de Nerleux, Saumur Champigny £8.75 £9.50
The highly regarded Thierry Germain has made a delicious
Champigny this year, full of ripe fruit and charm.

2007 Domaine des Rochelles Anjou Villages £9.75 £10.50
Jean-Yves Lebreton has produced a wonderful wine made from
Cabernet Franc – it has a lovely concentration concentration and length.

2007 Bourgueil ‘Racines’ £11.95 £12.95
Frédéric Mabileau is recognised by his peers as one of the finest vignerons in the Loire valley and his 2007 Bourgueil, made from old vines, has lovely ripe fruit and a very good length and concentration enhanced
by careful ageing in oak.

2008 Sancerre Rouge ‘Les Pierris’ £10.75 £11.60
Delicious Pinot Noir from the Champault brothers with good balance and drinking well.

2007 Chinon ‘ Vieilles Vignes’ Philippe Alliet £15.25 £16.50
Stunning wine from very old vines and aged in new oak .Lovely rich and concentrated. Another fabulous wine from Chinon’s greatest wine maker.

Winter at RSJ Restaurant

We have put together the following programme of wine tastings and Italian Sunday lunches for Winter 2009/10.

Jean Tatin tasting 2008 Sauvignon Blanc grapes in Quincy

Wine Tastings with Dinner (3 courses) Start 7.15pm
Monday 23rd November ‘The 2008 Vintage’ £45.00
Reduced yields but producing wines with great maturity and breadth. With the notable exception of the sweet wines from Anjou, 2008 can be considered a better vintage than 2007.
Why not come along and introduce yourself to the delights of the 2008 vintage and taste some stunning Chinons from Baudry-Dutour (Christophe Baudry and Jean-Martin Dutour) as well as Jean Tatin’s terrific Quincy, the Champaults delicious Sancerre and various other delights.

Quincy 2008: small bunch of well ripe Sauvignon Blanc

Monday 18th January ‘ Cellar Raid’ £45.00
We will be tasting some wines from the RSJ archives – details to be posted on website in due course

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

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Ursula is a great enthusiast

Italian Sunday lunches at RSJ

Our winter 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 22nd November ‘In and around Italy in 6 courses’ £30.00
Enjoy the Italians’ well loved dishes covering the length and breadth of Italy – full of diversity and a
great taste experience!
Crostine alle Olive - Umbrian Olives are famous and full of flavour –with Porcini mushrooms they make a delicious combination.
Rotolo di Spinaci – Emilia Romagna is well known for its pasta and as a gastronomical capital – fresh handmade pasta rolled with spinach & ricotta.
Polpetti di melanzane – Roman aubergines are special and this is a great example – herbs & pineuts with an infusion of mozzarella and tomato.
Costaletti di Tonno – Sicilian Tuna with capers, marinated with lemon and herbs, this has a classic sweet and sour flavour.
Cipollini alla Fontina From the Val d’Aosta – little onions with parsley.
Torino ‘home of chocolate’ – This luxury desert chocolate salami served with homemade ice cream using of course, Italian eggs.


Sunday 24th January ‘The Magic of Venice’ £30.00
A Venetian 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 will cost each person an additional £30.00 for this cookery tuition.

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

2009 Loire: Christophe Daviau happy with result

Christophe Daviau checking Chenin Blanc in mid October 2009

I caught up with Christophe Daviau (Domaine de Bablut, Brissac-Quincé) on the phone this evening:

Christophe: "We finished on Thursday 29th October when we were still enjoying the summer weather. I'm very glad that we finished then as we have subsequently had quite a lot of rain. On the Friday it was still fine and summery but it got very humid on Saturday and we had rain on Sunday 1st November and we continued to have rain during this week.

Domaine de Bablut, Grandpierre Chenin Blanc 2009

Although we will obviously have to see what the wine is like once it has finished fermenting, I'm very happy with the Coteaux de l'Aubance. The last tri of Grandpierre was 19% potential. I'm also happy with the Anjou Blanc sec. For the reds the quality is good but it would have been good to have had about 10hl/ha more. I haven't done the calculation yet but I estimate that the yield for the red was around 30hl/ha."

Cabernet Franc destined for 2009 Petra Alba