Red light in le Petit Pressigny

During dinner at La Promenade on Saturday night, Xavier Fortin, the restaurant's long-serving sommelier, kindly invited us to visit the restaurant's cellars the next morning around 11am. This gave me time to wander around the village (population: 326 in 2006) and, in particular, to admire the new traffic lights in the centre of the village. These are a traffic calming measure – changing colour as cars etc. approach.

Getting the green light

Among the treasures in La Promenade's cellars, there are some very old bottles from the Foucaults (in Chace). The oldest being a 1900 Saumur-Champigny.

1900 Clos Rougeard, Saumur-Champigny (Foucault)

Xavier Fortin who has been at La Promenade since 1988

2004 Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, André Michel Brégeon

Xavier kindly opened a 2004 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine from André Michel Brégeon. Now one of the crus communales it spent five years on its lees. Light to mid-gold in colour this has a richness and complexity that one doesn't normally associate with Muscadet. At the same time it is brilliantly precise and mineral in the finish. A grand vin but not at a grand vin price.

Just a few steps from Au fil de l'Aigronne (left) to La Promenade

Readers of Jim's Loire may well be aware of our enthusiasm for Jacky Dallais' wonderful restaurant – La Promenade in Le Petit Pressigny. Hitherto we have virtually always had to have lunch there as it is around 60 kilometres from Epeigné-les-Bois to Le Petit Pressigny. We have stayed in the area a couple of times but it was never a great success. The first time must have been nearly 20 years ago in a chambre d'hôte just across from La Promenade. The other time was in a château chambre d'hôte in the next village – La Celle Guenand – which meant a four kilometre walk along the road.

Fortunately the original chambre d'hôte opposite the restaurant has been completely revamped, having changed hands a couple of times. The very welcoming present owners – Valérie et Loïc Bobon, who are originally from La Mayenne, took over about a year ago at Au fil de l'Aigronne. We booked the downstairs suite for last night – 70€ including breakfast for the two adjoining rooms with shared facilities, so were able to enjoy the customary excellent meal at La Promenade without having to worry about a long journey home that evening.
    

I'm sure this won't be the last time we opt to spend the night in Le Petit Pressigny at the Bobon's B&B. Amongst the other people staying there last night was a couple from Tours, who hearing how good La Promenade is, caught the bus that runs from Tours to Tournon Saint-Martin. They had dinner at La Promenade last night and were planning to have Sunday lunch there before heading back to Tours on the bus that passes around 5.30pm.

Above is a a sign spotted at Le Petit Pressigny on Saturday. As unofficial I fancy as Rue Ernesto Che Guevara is in Saint-Andelain.

 

Banner strung across Le Petit Pressigny's main road

Tomorrow is the third edition of Le Petit Pressigny's l'art & lard autumn fair with a circuit d'art, marché gourmand, floral et artisanal. The Fête gets underway at 10am.

Work by Jacqueline Geslin – one of the exhibitors

Claude Eybert explaining his work

Some of Claude Eybert's work

Getting ready for the Fête

Xavier Fortin, sommelier@La Promenade who will be selling pizzas that have been cooked in his oven tomorrow

Restaurant Jacky Dallais, Le Petit Pressigny - at the end of a long road

Today we went out for a splendid Sunday lunch at Jacky Dallais' La Promenade in Le Petit Pressigny. It is always excellent and each time we wonder why we don't go more often because it also such stunning value for the quality. Being over 50 kilometres away is a large part of the answer. Why La Promenade isn't more than a one-star Michelin is beyond me. It is, however, just as well because the service is discreet and efficient even during a busy Sunday lunch and Jacky Dallais stays in his kitchen producing his magic rather than playing the celebrity chef and touring the tables. I will be writing more about La Promenade, our lunch and the wines for my Tuesday piece this week on Les 5 du Vin.

See a posting here on a previous lunch@La Promenade and one from Jacqueline Friedrich.

After lunch I took a few photos around the village of Le Petit Pressigny and then we headed off for a quick look at Le Petit's grown-up brother Le Grand Pressigny and its museum of pre-history.

The church and the square

Bridge and the Aigronne

The village's rather curious Mairie architecturally speaking

Glimpse of a garden

le lavoir

*

Le Grand Pressigny

The centre and the Château

Sign for the hotel/restaurant: Le Savoie Villars

Le château

The new Musée attached to the château

More views of the château area

A date for your diaries:

A date for your diaries: 

  

Le Petit Pressigny

 The details of the Petit Pressigny wine fair (which is only on Sunday afternoon) are as follows:-

Salon des Vignerons

Dimanche le 4 Juillet

16.00 Place de l'Eglise
Le Petit  Pressigny

19.00 Diner champetre - sur  reservation - Mairie 02.47.94.93.59

This event is primarily organised by Xavier Fortin using his contacts, so the wines are usually ones that are also bought by him for the restaurant (La Promenade)  For your information, It's an annual event and is always the first Sunday in July.