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




Tuesday 30 April 2013

Concours Mondial du Sauvignon: Chambord from above

Château de Chambord appearing through the gloom (above and below)



François I's 'hunting lodge' 

 Heading away from the draughty pile (above and below)


Monday 29 April 2013

Concours Mondial du Sauvignon 2013: helicopter over the Sologne

 Heading across the Sologne to Sancerre 

Although driving through the Sologne you are aware that the area is predominantly forested, it is not until you fly over it that it is clear how extensive the forests are. 

 Pilot and Anne Serres behind in red


There are a lot of trees in the Sologne 



Sunday 28 April 2013

La Loire@Blois early Saturday morning

Looking upstream

A quartet of photos taken early Saturday morning from the north bank of the Loire@Blois just by the Hotel Mercure shortly before we headed off to taste the last of the Sauvignons.



 

 Bridge over the Loire from the centre of Blois


Concours Mondial du Sauvignon 2013 more photos of tasters

 Baudouin Havaux

Some photos from yesterday morning's tasting session at the Château of Blois. 


Pierre Chainier, Loire négociant and producer

Pieter de Waal, Hermit on the Hill, South Africa

 
Laurence Fourgeray

Thierry Michaud – Touraine producer@Noyers-sur-Cher (above and below) 


 Julie Guillot, one of the organisers of the Concours 

After the tasting: Lionel Gosseaume (world expert on Meslier Saint François and 
Interloire's representative for the Concours), Paul Buisse (retired négociant and producer), Christian Girard (retired Touraine producer)

 A previous edition of Jim's Loire and a taster@the 16th century Concours

Concours Mondial du Sauvignon 2013 – results

Laurence Fourgeray tasting yesterday 

The results of the 4th Concours Mondial du Sauvignon are now out here. Two Loire Sauvignons won two of the four trophies: the 2011 Domaine André Vatan Saint François, Sancerre won the trophy for the best oaked Sauvignon, while Domaine Gibault, 2012 Touraine Sauvignon won the trophy for the unoaked Sauvignon at less than 10€. 


André Vatan (above and below) at his chai in Verdigny


A patriotic Paul Buisse after the tasting 




  


Saturday 27 April 2013

Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire from a helicopter

A first glimpse of the butte of Sancerre

Following the second tasting for the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon this morning in Blois there was a helicopter trip to Sancerre, which included an overflight above the vineyards of Pouilly. Here few of the photos from the trip.  


Getting closer 

Chavignol comes into sight plus vineyards above Saint-Satur in the distance 

Bué

Vineyards between Amigny and Sancerre

The town of Sancerre (above and below)


Menetreol-sous-Sancerre

 Saint-Thibault

Across to Saint-Andelain (above and below)


Pouilly-sur-Loire

More photos to follow in further posts.

Château de Chenonceau goes fishing

Approaching the château...


Getting closer....

 and closer...

....and....!

Friday 26 April 2013

Concours Mondial Sauvignon 2013: a few pics from today's tasting

At the entrance to the Château de Blois – the tasting venue


Part of the Château where the tasting is held

Jean-Pierre Gouvaze: organiser from Interloire

Thomas Costenoble: director of the Concours

Lionel Gosseaume: Touraine Oisly producer in Choussy near Oisly 
+ world expert on Meslier Saint François

Dr Jamie Goode (author of the Science of Sauvignon Blanc) flying the flag
Jean-Christophe Bourgeois in background   

Trio of photos of the tasting underway

Pierre Chainier tastes while surveying the room