Sumertime rosé! Ogereau's 2009 Rosé de Loire + big trio tasting

Enjoying a glass of 2009 Rosé de Loire, Domaine Ogereau

Now that we seem to be enjoying a prolonged spell of warm, sunny weather what could be better than a nicely chilled bottle of rosé. Our consignment of Vincent Ogereau's deliciously easy drinking rosé has arrived just in time for the sun. Made from 60% Grolleau and 40% Gamay this has attractive, ripe red fruit flavours. Available retail* at a special summer price of £7.50 a bottle. In the restaurant it's £18.95 a bottle and by the glass for £4.25 (125mls).

* To order please contact Tom King on 020-7928 4554 or tom.king@rsj.uk.com

**

The Big trio tasting: Monday 6th September 

A reminder that our 2010 anniversary tastings with Loire producers concludes with the much anticipated visit from Claude and Joëlle Papin (Château Pierre-Bise), Vincent and Catherine Ogereau (Domaine Ogereau) and Yves and Marie-Annick Guégniard (Domaine de la Bergerie).  

With three growers present the format will be a little different from normal. There will be a walk round tasting beforehand starting from around 6pm, so plenty of opportunity to meet our three producers and taste their wines. Then we will move upstairs for dinner around 7.45 with each grower presenting their domaines and showing two wines. Cost of the tasting and dinner will be £45.

We anticipate that this will be a great evening and that demand for places will be high. Please contact Tom King on 020-7928 4554 or tom.king@rsj.uk.com to book. 

Philippe Germain on 22nd June

Philippe chatting over the aperitif 

The always enthusiastic Philippe Germain was over in London this week and on Tuesday evening presented a short range of his wines at the RSJ. Philippe moved from Bordeaux in 2001 and initially worked with his father, Bernard, selling the range of Germain wines that included Château de Fesles that was subsequently sold to Grands Chais de France. 

In 2006 he acquired the lovely Château de la Roulerie in Saint-Aubin-de-Luigné in one of the best parts of the Layon.   

Wines were:

Aperitif:  

2007 Chenin Blanc, Anjou Blanc 
This 2007 is showing very well at the moment with lovely pure citric fruit, especially grapefruit – all the precision and purity that is typical of the 2007 vintage.

Whites:
2009 Chenin Blanc, Anjou Blanc
Naturally still youthful with the weight you would expect of 2009 with floral and grapefruit notes. Closed with a screwcap.

2008 Les Terrasses, Anjou Blanc 
Philippe's top dry white from vines on terraces created by Gaston Lenôtre in the early 1990s. Very clean with brilliant minerality.

Served with goats cheese and asparagus salad with crouton


Philippe is happy to admit that the schisteous terroir of La Roulerie is not ideally suited to making red wine. Indeed he would rather concentrate on the whites but his brother, Thierry of Domaine des Roches Neuves, urges him to continue to make red as well. In truth the Roulerie reds are pleasant and well made but they are ones to drink young, enjoy young and not to be taken particularly seriously.  

Philippe in full flight   

Reds:
2009 Cabernet Franc, Anjou Rouge 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, Anjou Rouge 

Philippe waited until around 20th October to pick when the fruit was fully ripe. Unusually this has 10% Cabernet Sauvignon blended in. Youthful black fruits with some structure  and still attractive freshness in the finish despite the wine having 13-13.5% alcohol. 

2008 Cabernet Franc, Anjou Rouge  

Soft attractive, easy drinking fruit.

Served with roast rib eye beef with new potatoes, summer vegetables and red wine sauce

 1990 Cuvée Louis

Sweet: 
1990 Cuvée Louis, Coteaux du Layon Chaume, Château de la Roulerie,
The definite star of the evening a lovely sweet wine made by Dominique Jadeau – the last vintage he made before he sold Roulerie to Lenôtre. Medium gold – the 1990s took on colour very early – with rich dried apricot and peachy fruit and the typical Loire acidity that stops these rich wines being cloying. Very long flavour too. Really a wine to enjoy by itself instead of a dessert or after the end of the meal.

Served with apple meringue pie with pecan ice cream

Philippe Germain: wines being shown on Tuesday (22nd June)

Some of the vineyards of la Roulerie

 Philippe Germain from Château de la Roulerie will be presenting the following wines on Tuesday evening:  

Wines are:

Aperitif:  

2007 Chenin Blanc

Whites:
2009 Chenin Blanc
2008 Les Terrasses

Reds:
2009 Cabernet Franc
2008 Cabernet Franc

Sweet:
1990 Château de la Roulerie, Coteaux du Layon Chaume

 Château de la Roulerie

PS Nothing from Mexico!

New menus: fixed and à la carte (June 2010)

Menu

Parma Ham, Gallia & Cantaloupe melon  7.95 /11.95

Tian of dressed crab, Gazpacho, crostini    9.95 /17.95

Asparagus, Jersey Royals, poached egg, truffle dressing     6.95 /11.95

Buffalo mozzarella, heritage tomatoes, aged balsamic      7.95 /11.95

Pan fried sea bass and prawns, cucumber salsa 8.95 /17.95

Pan fried salmon, smoked salmon ravioli,

spinach, mussels & garlic butter 7.50 /14.95

Dish of the day P.O.A

Grilled British rib-eye, roast Mediterranean vegetables,

confit potatoes, green peppercorn sauce 18.95

Roast free-range English duck breast, french bean, date

& dandelion salad, sautéed new potatoes, shallot dressing            17.95

Homemade tagliatelle, wild mushrooms, shaved Parmesan,

rocket 11.95

Side Orders £2.95

French beans

Roasted courgettes

New season potatoes

House mixed salad / green salad

Chips

*

Fixed Price Menu

2 courses £16.95

3 courses £18.95

Soup of the day

Beetroot & vodka cured salmon, crème fraîche,

lemon & cracked pepper soda bread

Courgette, ricotta & sultana rolls, pine nuts & rocket,

orange blossom honey

*     *     *     *    *    *

Roast North Atlantic cod, peas, broad beans & bacon,

tartare sauce

Seared Dutch calves liver, sautéed potatoes, french beans,

red wine jus

Smoked chicken, mango & avocado salad,

mustard dressing

*    *    *     *    *    *

Choice of desserts from the a la carte menu

Desserts all £5.75

Passion fruit tartlet, mango sorbet, raspberry sauce

Lemon posset, blueberry compote, ginger shortbread

Baked peanut butter cheesecake, toffee sauce,

banana ice cream

Rich chocolate pot with griottine cherries

Warm apple & sultana cake, calvados crème fraiche

Iced coconut & pandan leaf parfait, spiced pineapple

Homemade ices and sorbets

Selection of cheeses served with quince paste and pressed fig and almond cake  £6.75

Coffee

Filter     £2.00

Cappuccino / decaff   £2.20

Espresso / decaff   £2.00

Double espresso £2.95