Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Thursday 6 May 2010

Loire wines@Waitrose

The Naked Grape, 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, Vin de Pays de Charentais

I went along to the Waitrose press tasting today. There was a substantial number of wines to taste – some 225. Rather than try to taste a huge number I preferred to concentrate on the Loire and then taste a few from elsewhere.

First up was the Naked Grape 2009 Sauvignon Blanc. I know that the Charente isn't normally considered part of the Loire but it does have a connection that I knew nothing about until today. This 2009 Sauvignon (£6.99) is attractively grassy, crisp and well made. The Loire connection is Henri Bourgeois of Chavignol, who advise the growers of the co-operative and then select the vats that will be sold under the Naked Grape label.
2009 Fief Guérin, Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu

Waitrose showed two 2009 Muscadets: one from Sèvre et Maine, made by Grands Chais de France (Champteloup label - £5.99) and the other the Fiefs Guérin (£6.49) from the Choblet family in Bouaye. I thought the Fiefs Guérin was well worth the additional 50p as it has crisper, more vibrant fruit with an attractive salinity in the finish.

(More wines to add but it is time to get settled in to see the result of the UK's 2010 General Election.)

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