RSJ's 30th anniversary: 1980-2010

2010 was a very special year for us as the RSJ Restaurant celebrated its 30th year. We held a number of special events through the year to mark our 30th birthday.

36th Year: 1980-2016

Another milestone with events happening during our 36th anniversary year.




Thursday, November 24, 2011

Touraine East and West – report on tasting


2009 Les Pichiaux, Touraine Sauvignon, Noëlla Morantin 


Monday’s tasting and dinner presented a ‘natural wine’ challenge in the shape of Noëlla Morantin’s 2009 Touraine Sauvignon ‘Les Pichaux’ (£12.95)

Overall the theme was Touraine East and West, although the balance of wines was rather more east (6) to west (3).

2010 Le Clos, Touraine Sauvignon, Domaine du Clos Roussely

The aperitif was Vincent Roussley’s 2010 ‘le Clos’ Sauvignon Blanc (£8.75). This is a modern Touraine Sauvignon with attractive grapefruit and other citric flavours, some palate weight and the quite marked acidity in the finish, which is characteristic of the 2010 vintage. Vincent’s wines continue to be consistently good and offer very fair value.  

Noëlla’s 2009 Sauvignon caused the assembled tasters to lose their bearings with little or none of the stereotypical characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc. Instead ‘Les Pichaux’ has some oxidative and leesy characters from its long fermentation and maturation.  For me Noëlla’s wines fall well within the acceptable side of my continuum of drinkability. However, the vast majority present weren’t convinced.

I kept some of Les Pichaux for a good hour and it certainly changed in the glass with the oxidative character lessening. Instead developing an aroma of bread pudding. I fancy that this may well need to be decanted. Clearly some experimentation is required.
2010 3 Coteaux Chinon Blanc, Baudry-Dutour

Then we moved onto a trio of Chenins. The 2010 screcwapped 3 Coteaux Chinon Blanc (£11.95) from Baudry-Dutour is light and lemony with an austere finish – probably good with shellfish. 

2010 Les Dix Arpents, Domaine de la Taille aux Loups

Jacky and Joëlle Blot’s long and minerally 2010 Les Dix Arpents Montlouis, Domaine de la Taille aux Loups was many people’s favourite white. Although this is the Blots entry level Montlouis it still underlined the quality of the wines they are making.  

2009 Vouvray Champalou

The 2009 Vouvray Sec from Domaine Champalou (£11.95) was the richest of the whites tasted showing the fuller character of the 2009 vintage and also doubtless having a little more residual sugar than the other whites. It attracted some followers, although Le Dix Arpents was judged to be the complex wine. 
 
2009 Racines, Bourgueil, Frédéric Mabileau

Frédéric Mabileau’s 2009 Racines Bourgueil (£13.75) comes from a one hectare plot on clay and gravel at Chouzé-sur-Loire, a commune by the Loire and to the south of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil. Frédéric’s grandfather planted the vines here over 45 years ago. It has attractive spicy, youthful fruit with some opulence. Best drunk I think over the next three or four years rather than for long aging, where Frédéric’s L’Eclipse Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil from the limestone coteaux is a much better bet if looking for a wine to lay down. 

2008 KO, Thierry Puzelat

Thierry Puzelat’s 2008 KO Vin de table Français (£13.75) proved to be popular with its sous bois and farmyard character. I suspect that a number of Australian winemakers, looking for squeaky clean wines would dismiss this as technically faulty. However, it think it works and is drinking well now. The wines sold under the Thierry Puzelat name are négociant wines made from grapes bought from producers who have a similar approach to organic viticulture as Thierry. The Domaine du Tué-Bouef is the family estate in Les Montils, where Thierry and his elder brother, Jean-Marie, work together.  

1997 Cuvée Prestige, Domaine du Bourg, Jean-Paul Mabileau

The 1997 Cuvée Prestige, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil from Domaine du Bourg, Jean-Paul Mabileau, Frédéric’s father had aged well with its sweet evolved fruit – an elegant, complex and delicate wine. Often when tasting Jean-Paul’s wines when they were young, particularly when tasted alongside Frédéric’s they seemed rather thin and weak. But they had a deceptive power with the ability to take on more weight with a few years in bottle and to age well. This 1997 is showing well now and, although I don’t think it will get better, it will still last a few more years.
2008 Anthologie du Clos, Vincent Roussely

We finished with the 2008 Anthologie du Clos from Vincent Roussely (£9.95), which is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Côt. Like several 2008s it is quite edgy at the moment needing more time for the acidity and tannins to soften down. It also needs food and showed well with the tasty game casserole served as main course.     



  

   

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Touraine East & West: RSJ tasting and dinner on Monday 21st November

Frédéric Mabileau with 2011 Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil


Wines and menu for Monday nights event:

Aperitif:


2010 Touraine 'Le Clos' Sauvignon, Vincent Roussely


White:

2009 Sauvignon 'Les Pichiaux', Noëlla Morantin

2010 Chinon Blanc  3 Coteaux Baudry- Dutour

2009 Vouvray Sec Catherine and Didier Champalou

2010 Montlouis 'Les Dix Arpents' Domaine de la Taille aux Loups, Jacky Blot


Reds:

2009 Bourgueil 'Racines' Frédéric Mabileau

1997 St Nicolas de Bourgueil 'Cuvée Prestige' Jean-Paul Mabileau

2008 Anthologie du Clos,  Vincent Roussely

2008 Touraine KO 'In Cot We Trust', Thierry Puzelat

Menu:-

Pan seared fillet of Sea Bass, lobster & salmon tortellini bisque, wilted red chard

Game casserole, truffle mash, winter vegetable crisps

Plus one of George's finest desserts when he has decided!


Friday, November 11, 2011

RSJ Christmas Wine Offer 2011

                        
Vincent Roussely (Touraine)

The following wines are a special selection from the extensive RSJ Wine list and are offered at a discounted rate until the end of the year. We have already put together a number of ‘mixed cases’ but please feel free to mix your own cases if you prefer.

To order:  tel 020-7928 4554   e-mail: tom.king@rsj.uk.com
               
A box for Christmas Day  £ 57.00 

1 bottle                 Crémant de Loire Brut, Domaine de Nerleux              
Delicious dry sparkling wine made in the traditional method from Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay.

2 bottles                2010 Touraine Sauvignon, Domaine du Clos Roussely
Stunning Sauvignon from a wonderful recent discovery, Vincent Roussely.

2 bottles                2009  Anjou Rouge, Domaine Ogereau
Lovely ripe and fruity with an excellent balance and flavour.

1 bottle                 Taylors First Estate Port
Ripe well structured port from this famous house.


                                The Prestige case [6 bottles]             £90.00
                                    [A stunning collection of our Vignerons top wines]

1 bottle                 2003 Le L’d’Or Muscadet, Vieilles Vignes 
                                Pierre Luneau
1 bottle                 2009  ‘Petit Princé’ Chenin Blanc
                                Christophe Daviau
1 bottle                 2009 St Nicolas de Bourgueil ‘Eclipse’
                                Frédéric Mabileau
1 bottle                 2008 ‘Evanescence’ Anjou Villages
                                Yves Guégniard
1 bottle                 2009 ‘La Croix de Mission’ Anjou Villages
                              Jean-Yves Lebreton
1 bottle                  2009 Coteaux du Layon ‘Les Rouannières’ [50cl]
                               Claude Papin


 12 Bottles for the Festive Season  £ 137.00

2 bottles                2010 Sancerre ‘Les Pierris’
                                Domaine Champault
2 bottles                2010 Chateau de la Roulerie, Chenin Sec
                                Philippe Germain
1 bottle                 2008 Anjou Villages
                                Vincent Ogereau
2 bottles                2009 Chinon, Domaine de la Perrière
                                Christophe Baudry                            
2 bottles                2010 St Nicolas de Bourgueil ‘ Les Rouillères’
                                Frédéric Mabileau
1 bottle                 Crémant de Loire Brut
                                Domaine de Nerleux
1 bottle                 2007 Coteaux du Layon ‘Clos de la Soucherie’
                                Claude Papin
1 bottle                 Taylors LBV 2004 Port


Champagne & Sparkling Wine
Crémant de Loire Brut, Domaine de Nerleux  11.30  (Normal)                 £10.40 (Discount)

Crémant de Loire Rosé, Domaine de Nerleux            11.30                      £10.40

Vouvray Brut, Domaine Champalou                            £13.45                   £12.15

Champagne J.P.Robert Brut                                        £21.50                   £19.50



RED WINE 
2010 Saumur Rouge, Domaine des Hauts de Sanziers    £8.70 (Normal)                      £7.95 (Discount)
A ripe and fruity Cabernet Franc from Dominique Tessier – this wine has an elegance and nice balance

2010 Touraine Gamay, Domaine du Clos Roussely                   £8.70                      £7.95
Delicious fruity Gamay from low yields grown organically by this exciting young vigneron.

2009 Anjou Rouge, Domaine Ogereau                                     £9.25                      £8.55
Easy drinking, fruity and with a nice concentration, Vincent Ogereau’s latest vintage is fantastic value.

2009 Chinon, Domaine de la Perrière                                         £9.95                      £9.20
Christophe Baudry’s lovely 2009 is packed with ripe fruit – it has a glorious nose of violets and a lovely balance.

2010 ‘Les Rouillères’ St Nicolas de Bourgueil                           £11.20                   £10.35
Frederic Mabileau’s delicious 2009 is rich ripe and elegant with an excellent balance.

2010 Saumur Champigny Dom. des Roches Neuves                £11.75                   £10.85
The highly regarded Thierry Germain has made a delicious Champigny this year, full of ripe fruit and charm.

2009 Anjou Villages ‘Breton’ Domaine des Rochelles                £11.95                   £11.05
Jean-Yves Lebreton’s excellent 2009 is packed with wonderful fruit and is superbly balanced.

2009 Sancerre Rouge ‘Les Pierris’                                                 £12.95                   £11.95
Delicious Pinot Noir from the Champault brothers with good balance and drinking really well.

2010  Bourgueil ‘Racines’                                                               £13.75                   £12.75
Frédéric Mabileau is recognised by his peers as one of the finest vignerons in the Loire valley and his 2010 Bourgueil, made from old vines, has lovely ripe fruit and a very good length and concentration enhanced by careful ageing in oak.

2008  ‘Evanescence’  Anjou Villages                                             £15.70                   £14.50
Yves Guegniard has produced a wonderful wine made from Cabernet Franc – it has a lovely concentration and length.

Sweet Wines
The following selection of sweet wines go extremely well with blue cheese, Foie Gras and various fruit desserts – why not treat yourself to a bottle or two this Christmas?

2009/10 Coteaux du Layon, Domaine Ogereau                                           £13.25 (normal)                 £12.25 (discount)

2007 Coteaux du Layon, ‘Soucherie’ Claude Papin [50cl]                        £15.75                  £17.05

2009 Coteaux du Layon ‘Les Rouannières’ Claude Papin [50cl]            £18.25                  £16.85

2006 Quarts de Chaume, Château Pierre Bise [50cl]                 £22.95                   £21.25


DRY WHITE                                                                                                    
2010 Saumur Blanc, Domaine des Hauts de Sanziers £8.70 (Normal)  £7.95 (discount)
Dominique Tessier’s lovely ripe Chenin Blanc has a good length and is most appealing.

2010 Touraine Sauvignon, Vincent Roussely  £8.70                      £7.95
Organically grown from low yields, this lovely ripe Sauvignon has much more concentration than most from this appellation.

2010 Sauvignon, Domaine de Bablut      £8.95                      £8.25
Christophe Daviau’s delicious organically produced Sauvignon is ripe, elegant and has a lovely balance.

2009 Muscadet Vieilles Vignes, ‘Le Clos des Allées’                 £9.75                      £8.95
Pierre Luneau’s stunning Muscadets go from strength to strength and this wine from a special site has real ripeness and excellent balance.   

2009  Petit Princé Chenin Blanc Dom. de Bablut,                                      11.95                      £11.05
Christophe Daviau’s lovely Chenin Blanc is made organically and is bottled on the lees. It has a wonderful concentration and complexity.

2010 Château de la Roulerie, Chenin Sec       £12.10                   £11.15
Now in the hands of the dynamic Philippe Germain, this famous old Anjou property has gone through a transformation. This superbly balanced ripe fruity wine goes well with lightly spiced and oriental food as well as traditional fish and white meat dishes.


2009 Vouvray Sec, Domaine Champalou                             £12.10                   £11.15
Didier Champalou’s delicious Vouvray has lovely ripe fruit and great length. It is for wines like this that he is regarded by many as the leading vigneron in this appellation.

2010 Quincy, Domaine des Ballandors                                   £12.15                   £11.25
Jean Tatin’s delicious dry zesty and beautifully balanced Sauvignon is now drinking superbly.

2010 Sancerre ‘Les Pierris’ Domaine Champault                   £12.75                   £11.85
This classic Sancerre from the Champault brothers has a lovely blackcurrant nose, ripe Sauvignon flavours and is beautifully balanced.

2010 Pouilly Fumé, Domaine Treuillet                                      £12.95                   £11.95
Superbly balanced Pouilly from exciting new discovery, Sébastien Treuillet – delicious!