Oysters on the menu today

Today ought to be one for the sprinters. The race heads northwards from Carhaix to the coast and then runs along eastwards by to the sea to the finish in Cap Fréhel. The race passes through Yffniac, the birthplace of the great Bernard Hinault. Expect once again a long breakaway that will be caught with around 10-15 kilometres from the finish.

The finish could be tricky as there are several bends on the way to the line. Will this be Mark Cavendish's day or will Tyler Farrar win again or someone else? They will certainly want to go for this as the finish tomorrow at Liseux is uphill and won't suit pure sprinters.

Spectators should be enjoying the race with some oysters and a bottle of nicely chilled Muscadet or Gros Plant. 

Fine post by Michel Smith on Les 5 du Vin extolling the virtues of Muscadet Haute Expression. This is Muscadet from low yields, specific terroirs which spends a minimum of 48 months sur lie. However, due to the appellation's rules sur lie cannot be mentioned on the labels for these wines as the rules say that all sur lies have to be bottled by 30th November following the vintage. Crazy I know but that is the legislation.

See here.

A tanned looking Christophe Surget, export manager for Couly-Dutheil, with 2005 Clos de l'Olive

Tuesday was the annual Thorman Hunt tasting held in the traditional surroundings of the Merchant Taylors Hall in the City of London. Entirely appropriate surroundings for the traditional values Thorman Hunt & Co Ltd, who concentrate chiefly on shipping French wines, although they do bring in some from Italy and a few from New Zealand, California, Australia as well as Massaya in the Lebanon's Bekaa Valley – partly French owned of course. There is nothing flashy about the company but they do have some excellent names in their portfolio such as Alain Brumont (Madiran/ Pacherenc), Charles Hours (Jurançon), Yves Cuilleron (nothern Rhône), Vincent Girardin (Meursault), Vincent Durreuil-Janthial (Rully), Jean Durup, and Christian Moreau from Chablis.

With best part of 450 wines available to taste and arriving later than I hoped, I only had time to concentrate on the Loires starting with Joseph Drouard's Muscadets (Domaine des Hauts Pemions in Monnières). The 2009 seemed quite lean and minerally at the moment, while his 2010 Muscadet La Hallopière was attractively youthful – floral and lemony.  

2005 Clos de l'Olive

Next a short range from Couly-Dutheil, presented by a tanned looking Christophe Surget – a few days recently in Martinique or was it the position of my flash that gave him such a healthy glow? Amongst the wines the 2010 Blanc de Francs (white made from Cabernet Franc) was showing well as was the 2009 La Baronnie-Madeleine (Chinon) with its sweet opulent fruit. The 2008 Clos de l'Echo and the 2005 Clos de l'Olive showed the contrast of the two vintages. The 2005 with rich, sweet, ripe fruit reflecting the sunshine of 2005, while the 2008 Echo, admittedly three years younger, a more classic Loire expression perhaps and quite tight and austere at the moment and, as one would expect, clearly needs more time in the cellar.

2008 Les Cormiers

Jean-Pierre Chevallier's Les Cormiers, Saumur Blanc, Château de Villeneuve is always a reference for Loire Chenin. The 2008 is wonderfully clean and precise with weight balanced by its minerality. Can be drunk now but I expect it to take on further complexity with age. J-P's 2009 Saumur-Champigny has only recently been released. It is still quite tight – needing more time, so instead look for his 2008, which is drinking beautifully at the moment.

Other wines to be covered in next post.