King Roan: John Livingstone-LearmonthKeen readers of Jim's Loire will doubtless remember JLL's magisterial analysis in September 2009 of The Bunch, a small and increasingly select group of UK independent wine merchants. Then down to just five members, JLL ran the form book over possible contenders to become the sixth member of The Bunch. London merchants, Lea & Sandeman, received the shortest odds, so it should be no surprise that just a few months later they did indeed join The Bunch.
Not only do Lea & Sandeman take the sixth plinth but Charles Lea brings considerable height to shore up the defence of UK independent wine merchants. Lea & Sandeman has a relatively short list of Loire wines, although well chosen. Growers/estates listed include Domaine Joël Delaunay, Jean Michel-Sorbe (Reuilly), Claude and Joëlle Papin (Château Pierre-Bise), Yannick Amirault, Bernard Baudry, Château de Tracy and Eric Chevalier (Domaine de L'Aujardiere).
L2R: Patrick Sandeman, Jason Yapp, Alun Griffiths MW (BBR) and Charles Lea - bringing stature to The Bunch
L&S stock Chevalier's excellent Fie Gris but they are somewhat mistaken when they claim: 'Fié Gris (otherwise known as Sauvignon Gris) is an ancient Loire variety which had all but disappeared before young Eric Chevalier was asked to make a special Cuvée for the renowned Hotel Anne de Bretagne'. I'm sure Jacky Preys, who has a real claim to have saved the Fie Gris, would take issue with this statement. Furthermore, although Fie Gris remains rare, there are also bottlings from Paul Buisse, Henri Bourgeois and perhaps others. To be fair to Eric Chevalier he doesn't make this claim. See here.
(Emboldening is my addition – Jim).
JLL's September 2009 formbook here.
Click here for John's Drink Rhone site
Not only do Lea & Sandeman take the sixth plinth but Charles Lea brings considerable height to shore up the defence of UK independent wine merchants. Lea & Sandeman has a relatively short list of Loire wines, although well chosen. Growers/estates listed include Domaine Joël Delaunay, Jean Michel-Sorbe (Reuilly), Claude and Joëlle Papin (Château Pierre-Bise), Yannick Amirault, Bernard Baudry, Château de Tracy and Eric Chevalier (Domaine de L'Aujardiere).
L2R: Patrick Sandeman, Jason Yapp, Alun Griffiths MW (BBR) and Charles Lea - bringing stature to The BunchL&S stock Chevalier's excellent Fie Gris but they are somewhat mistaken when they claim: 'Fié Gris (otherwise known as Sauvignon Gris) is an ancient Loire variety which had all but disappeared before young Eric Chevalier was asked to make a special Cuvée for the renowned Hotel Anne de Bretagne'. I'm sure Jacky Preys, who has a real claim to have saved the Fie Gris, would take issue with this statement. Furthermore, although Fie Gris remains rare, there are also bottlings from Paul Buisse, Henri Bourgeois and perhaps others. To be fair to Eric Chevalier he doesn't make this claim. See here.
(Emboldening is my addition – Jim).
JLL's September 2009 formbook here.
Click here for John's Drink Rhone site
