Let's the nature do her job.....

Winter tasks being behind Frantz Chagnoleau, it's time now to finish the traditional way of bending "Arcure" in the Mâconnais.Now Frantz has to leave mother nature do her job.

Still wines at Bollinger

Last week, first experience of "vins clairs" at Champagne Bollinger, ie the still wines of 2011 vintage before blending. Despite their low alcohol level (always better for sparkling wine !!) and the fact that their quality is difficult to assess due to their youthness, this kind of tasting is paramount to understand the mechanic of blending. Indeed, with those wines we might forecast the future Cuvée that Bollinger will released in years to come.


Benjamin Roffet

Vintage 2010 in Loire Valley

Vintage 2010 in Touraine gave, like in most of France, wines in classic style and with superb acidity.
Last week I have tasted wines with two young producers of the Loire Valley, one from Vouvray, the other from Montlouis.
First one, Sebastien Brunet is a rising star , his wines with each year  are more refined and precised.
Situated in Chancay, his 5 ha Domaine lies in some of the best parcels of this appelation. Beautiful Cuvée Renaissance from his 45 year old vines reflects the 2010 style of Sebastien's wines. Chalky and soft at the same time, with fresh aromas of pink grapefruit, concentrated and racy in the mouth. The 9g of residual sugar are perfectly integrated in the wine.
Xavier Weisskopf in Amboise made the same progress in the winemaking. His 2 hectares of old vines (88 years) are laying on the flint clay (silex) in Montlouis. His Cuvée Négrette 2010 has been saline and rich.

Benjamin Roffet

Domaine Philippe Delesvaux

Just had some news from Catherine and Philippe Delesvaux from Loire Valley. Pruning will finish in one week, which is latter than usual, due to deep cold in february, -12°C in Anjou.

Wine tasting with Frantz Chagnoleau, Pierreclos, and comparison between 2010 and 2011 vintages of Pouilly Fuissé.

Spring is in the air...
Planting of the new vines in Burgundy

Vinisud, Montpellier, 20-21 Luty 2012

Południe Francji, słońce, wino...

Niezwykle interesujące grono wystawców, a wśród nich Cyril Fhal z Domaine Clos du Rouge Gorge w apelacji Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes i jego pełne wyrazu czerwone wina za szczepów carignan,grenache i cinsault oraz Tom Lubbe z Domaine de Matassa, reprezentujący Roussillion.

Pozdrawiam i do usłyszenia,

Benjamin Roffet