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




Saturday 28 May 2016

2016 VitiLoire – some good bottles


I spent a few hours at VitiLoire in the centre of Tours today having caught the train from Chenonceaux into Tours. Waiting for the train at Chenonceaux it was noticeable that many of the vines in the vineyard next to the railway looked as though they were still in the middle of winter with no sign of growth. 

Small selection of wines that impressed me at VitiLoire:       

Producer in Thore la Rochette with 25 hectares – 40% Pineau d'Aunis, 25% Chenin, 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% of a range of other grape varieties mainly used in the sparkling wine. 
 
 2015 Tradition – a gris made from 100% Pineau d'Aunis
AC Coteaux du Vendômois

 Méthod Trad Vin de France  – 50% Chenin, 50% Pineau d'Aunis 


Fabien Demois, Chinon

2015 L'âne Gris, Vin de France  
A white made from 100% Cabernet Franc

 2013 Vieilles Vignes, Chinon, Domaine de Doulaye 
An impressive 2013 Chinon from 
a difficult vintage


Xavier Frissant, Amboise

 2014 La Griffe d'Isa, 100% Fie Gris, Touraine, Xavier Frissant 

Bruno Curassier, Domaine de la Grange, Touraine

 2014 Touraine Chenonceaux, Domaine de la Grange 
Concentration of grassy fruit with good length

Caves du Père Auguste, Touraine

2014 Touraine Chenonceaux Blanc, Caves du Père Auguste
grassy gooseberry, texture and weight  


Domaine des Vallettes, St Nicolas de Bourgueil 

  

 2013 Un Coup de Breton, Bourgueil, Domaine des Vallettes  
New label from Domaine des Vallettes  
in St Nicolas de Bourgueil 
 

Domaine de Noiré, Jean-Max Manceau, Chinon 

 2015 Amphora, Domaine de Noiré
Chinon Blanc 
Vinified in Amphore – good concentration, 
texture and complexity   





1 comment:

Susan said...

I was over at Chinon about 10 days ago, near Huismes. The vines there were really obviously affected, with only 3 of the 10 buds showing any leaves. That's obviously how they are calculating the estimated loss of 70%. Talking to Vouvray producers who got hit by the frost they are brushing it off as a mere nothing. The 20-30% loss they are expecting is better than the 50% losses the last couple of years.