Flowers and vines in the Clos Roche Blanche – Joe's type of vineyard
I was very sorry to learn this evening that Joe Dressner of Louis Dressner Selections died last night after a long and remarkably courageous battle with a brain tumour that was discovered in the latter part of 2008. Joe chronicled this battle is The Amazing Misadventures of Captain Tumour Man – a humourous and often surreal blog. There is an appreciation of Joe by his son Jules here on the Louis Dressner site.
Unfortunately I never met Joe. It would have been good to have met this champion of many small, individual and exciting Loire producers. To appreciate why Joe was important you only need to look through the list (here) of producers that Louis Dressner imports into the USA and then to read on about the company and their philosophy. Also see a fine portrait of Joe by Bertrand Celce on Wine Terroirs.
2009 Gamay, Clos Roche Blanche
Joe has long imported the wines of the Clos Roche Blanche (Catherine Roussel and Didier Barouillet) and did much to establish an enviable reputation for them and their wines, so it was very appropriate that I was drinking their delicious 2009 Gamay when I heard the news of Joe's death. Cheers Joe!
