Santé!: Les six mousqueteries with Nigel Wilkinson and Tom King (RSJ Restaurant, London)
(LR: from empty place – Catherine Ogereau, Nigel Wilkinson, Vincent Ogereau, Tom King, Claude Papin, Yves Guegniard, Joëlle Papin)
 

Mid-afternoon yesterday we headed out to the Domaine de la Bergerie (Champ-sur-Layon) to taste the wines of the six Mousqueteries who had come to London to for the last of the tastings to mark ther 30th anniversary of the RSJ restaurant. We started with Domaine Ogereau (Catherine and Vincent Ogereau), followed by Domaine de la Bergerie (Marie-Annick and Yves Guegniard) and then finishing with Château Pierre-Bise (Joëlle and Claude Papin). 

  

Scallops and a jerusalem artichoke sauce

After the tasting we had an excellent dinner with some lovely older vintages from the six at La Table de la Bergerie, run by David Guitton the son-in-law of Marie-Annick and Yves.

Wonderfully tender venison with vegetables and a rich wine sauce

We finished with a small selection of cheese, which included a very good Cantal, and then a varition on crèpes suzette.

* Jamais oubliez que les vins de Claude Papin sont toujours superb – Premier Règle de Château Pierre-Bise!

 

Joëlle Papin forgets the First Rule of Pierre-Bise 

(Stars of the Layon – L-R: Catherine and Vincent Ogereau, Joëlle and Claude Papin, Marie-Annick and Yves Guegniard)

At least Eurostar arrives on time for strike threatened party 

The stars from the Layon – Martie-Annick and Yves Guegniard, Catherine and Vincent Ogereau and Joëlle and Claude Papin – arrived in London early yesterday afternoon for a brief 24-hour visit for a couple of tastings at the RSJ Restaurant in London's Waterloo. Unfortunately the six are threatened with transport strikes on both sides of the Channel. Starting yesterday evening there is a 24-hour London tube strike and when they get back to Paris later today they could hit the start of a French rail strike. 

Here are some photos from the tasting at the RSJ last night:

Claude Papin

Catherine Ogereau

Joëlle Papin

Marie-Annick and Yves Guegniard

Vincent Ogereau

Tasters