Questionable claims that Eurotunnel is the greenest way of crossing the Channel

Off to the Loire and Bordeaux today.

 Sign for the Loire vineyards on the Autoroute A28

Always pretty – brief glimpse of le Loir as we speed past

 Other attractions: Le Lude and Poncé-sur-Le-Loir

I didn't get a chance to taste many Loire wines at the London Wine Trade Fair this year but I did stop by the Ackerman stand to try their popular rosé fizz, which is made from Pineau d'Aunis sourced in the valley of Le Loir. X Noir has the characteristic spicy, peppery flavour of Pineau d'Aunis. First launched in 2007 X Noir's main customers are young women up to the age of 35. X Noir has its own blog.

A number of very attractive rosés are made from Pineau d'Aunis in the Cher Valley. Usually they are pale coloured as the grapes are pressed immediately without any skin contact. For the moment these are usually sold as Appellation Touraine but under the proposed bizarre reforms of the Touraine appellation pure Pineau d'Aunis rosés will not be allowed. A local variety, Pineau d'Aunis after some years in the wilderness is now inceasing valued. As well as making attractive spicy rosés, it also makes good, light and delicious summery reds.       

 
X Noir's tag

A28: A brief glimpse of Le Loir@Château-du-Loir

Drove down yesterday in bright sunshine once we approached the Loire Valley. It is always fascinating traveling through France in early springtime to see how much more advanced the trees etc. come as you move southwards. In northern France it was still winter bleak with light sign of green, whereas from Le Mans southwards it became greener and with more blossom in evidence. Of course if we had carried on down to Bordeaux it would have become still greener. However, even down in the Loire London is probably more advanced due to its special micro-climate, doubtless helped by the pollution. I believe that you have to go as far south as Lyon to find a major city that has a higher average temperature than London.

Heading towards Tours: heavy traffic on the A28

Very enjoyable relaxed dinner at friends starting with the 2007 Varière Coteaux de l'Aubance, whose fresh, citric character makes this a good aperitif – not over sweet. Then I confidently mistook a 2006 Bourgogne Aligoté for a minerally Sauvignon Blanc. I did a little better with the red thinking it was Côt, which is was in part. The rest being Cabernet Franc and the whole was the 2006 Cuvée Pif from the Clos Roche Blanche. We had an excellent but simple first course – fresh local goats' cheese whizzed up with fresh basil to make a few creamy mouthfuls. Delcious.

Unfortunately today is showery and pretty miserable and the forecast for the rest of this week is not very special. Still the ground here is quite dry, so there hasn't been a lot of rain recently.