Half of the dozen importers were showing some Loire wines at yesterday's tasting. To respond to Chris Kissack's comment, I'd better start with H2Vin. On this occasion they were showing just two. Firstly the 2010 Les Roses du Clos (£8.00), AC Touraine from Xavier Frissant. Attractively mineral and long, Les Roses du Clos is made from Fie Gris (Sauvignon Rose/Sauvignon Gris). This has a delicacy that many Touraine Sauvignon Blancs do not have and once again underlines the lunacy of the INAO's plans to ban 100% Fie Gris from the right to the Touraine appellation.

2009 Génération X1X, Sancerre, Alphonse Mellot 

 

Les Alphonses' barrel fermented Génération Sancerre Blanc (£26.50) is far from your typical crisp Sauvignon Blanc. Rich, weighty, concentrated and long it gives more than a nod in Burgundy's direction. Its concentration in part reflects the warm summer of 2009 but also that the Mellot's along with many vignerons with vines around Sancerre town and Bué were severely hit by hail that year.   

One of the galeries in the cellars of Langlois-Chateau

Firstly a piece from Chris Kissack on a tasting of Vins Clairs at Langlois-Chateau at the beginning of February – a soirée during this year's Salon des Vins de Loire.

Then a couple of recent pieces from Bertrand Celce's wine terroir site – one on Mathieu Coste in the Coteaux du Giennois and one on Jacky Blot's Domaine de la Butte in Bourgueil. 

To finish there is an excellent and detailed blog on the construction of the new tramway in Tours. Called un tram pour Tours it is written by 19 year old Arnoul Maffre. Article on him here.

Montlouis: Chenin flowering – 14th June 2009

Threat of rampant mildew

The rain at the early part of last week, especially Monday's heavy rain – 70mm-80mm apparently – has sharply increased the threat of mildew and the vignerons have been busy out spraying their vines. This will have been difficult in vineyards with a high proportion of clay, parts of Vouvray for instance. Yesterday was showery, hot (25C+) and humid with some prolonged thunderstorms over night. Today is a bit cooler but still humid and threatening rain any minute. Fortunately the weather forecast on Meteo France is better for the rest of the week and the beginning of next, so with luck the flowering should be virtually finished by the end of this week.

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The Wine Doctor's Blog
The redoubtable Chris Kissack now has a blog to complement his website. Click here.

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Another example of the disappearing wine order scam
Touraine producers have been receiving another example of the disappearing wine order scam. This time a shorter version of the email and pretending to come from the well-respected wine merchant – Gauntleys of Nottingham.

'Cher monsieur,

Nous sommes exportateurs de vins de la France vers l'Angleterre et souhaiterons exporter vos millésimes pour leur vente en Angleterre où nous sommes basés.

Nous effectuerons nos paiements de préférence à 45 jours fin de mois. Merci de nous le confirmer et de nous transmettre vos tarifs.

Cordialement,

John Gauntleys

Gautleys Of Nottingham

4 High Street, Exchange Arcade, Nottingham. NG1 2ET

+ 44 (0) 7551050674'

The giveaway is that the company is run by John Gauntley and the phone number given is a mobile. Needless to say the email did not come from Gauntleys.

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.... and another one – this time from the Côte d'Ivoire

'Bonjour,

Je suis MESSOU THOMAS, j'aimerais ravitailler ma cave CAPMA CAVE basée
en Cote D'Ivoire.

Ceci étant je suis intéressé par vos productions notamment par différentes boissons issues de votre production vinicole c'est pour cela que je viens vers vous vous solliciter.

Et donc si vous êtes intéressé, veuillez m'indiquer les productions que vous avez en stock et le prix pour chaque désignation afin que je puisse passer une commande urgente et importante.

Veuillez me contacter dans les plus bref délais, des réception de ce mail afin que nous puissions entamer la procédure d'achat.

Bien à vous.

Mr MESSOU THOMAS
Tel : 00 225 66 42 90 73
Courriel : messou_thomas@gmail.com'


Will Monsieur Messou place an order for 419 cases of wine, I wonder?

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Hervé Lalau's 'power list'
Following the publication on 1st June of Decanter's latest version of their Power List – the 50 most influential people in the world of wine, Hervé Lalau (Chroniques Vineuses) drew up his own list and I was decidedly flattered to find myself one of those Hervé chose. Looking forward to Decanter's 5000 Power List – might just creep into that on a good day!