Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Monday 6 September 2010

Domaine de la Perruche: a couple of 2009 Saumur-Champignys

2009 Saumur-Champigny from Domaine de la Perruche

Over the past few days we have tried a couple of 2009 Saumur-Champignys from the 45ha Domaine de la Perruche in Montsoreau. The straight 2009 Saumur-Champigny, which we tried last night, has attractive soft red fruits and some balancing acidity – all in all an easy drinking style of Saumur-Champigny to enjoy over the next two or three years.

The Domaine de la Perruche was bought by Jacques and Anne Beaujeau (Château la Varière, Brissac-Quincé) in 2002. It has 42ha of Cabernet Franc and three of Chenin Blanc.

2009 Clos de Chaumont, Saumur-Champigny, Domaine de la Perruche

In contrast we tried the Perruche's single vineyard 2009 Clos de Chaumont, Saumur-Champigny which was a considerablde disappointment with thin fruit and rasping acidity. It may, of course, been a poor bottle, although it certainly wasn't corked. On the evidence of this bottle well below the level of the straight 2009 Saumur-Champigny.


NB 24th September 2010. I have tasted another bottle of the 2009 Clos de Chaumont and am happy to report that it was completely different from the one tasted above. It had the attractive fruit of a 2009 and none of the rasping acidity noted above. Although the above bottle wasn't corked, I can only assume that the cork in the above bottle was defective. Unfortunately this is the worst aspect of cork when it diminishes a wine without leaving the tell-tale aroma of TCA.

Reassessment of the 2009 Clos de Chaumont here.

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