La Bellevue

Thursday, 13 September 2012

Wine with Bill Zacharkiw (Montreal, Canada)

Today, upon recommendation, Bill Zacharkiw and his colleague, both Sommelier/ Journalist / Wine Critic's from Montreal dropped into Bistrot Les Tontons for lunch and a tasting of the Saumur rouge, Saumur-Puy-Notre-Dame, Saumur Champigny, Gamay & Saumur blanc with Gérald.

Click here to read Wine With Bill Zacharkiw

Thursday, 9 August 2012

La Tête dans les Etoiles, Saumur 2011

La Tête dans les Etoiles is our latest niche find and already proving to be a popular choice at Bistrot Les Tontons.

Created by Eric Gastellier, a biodynamic producer located outside of Saumur. Eric grows his chenin blanc grapes on 40 year old vines over an area of 30 ares – this equates to just 10 lines of vines which produces 1500 bottles !

A white oaked wine, mineral in tasting and albeit La Tête dans les Etoiles is still young (2011), it opens itself quickly. Needless to say we will be following the evolution of this wine with great interest.

The grape harvest dates will be announced later this month and we have been invited to join Eric for this year's vendange... something I am looking forward to.

Tuesday, 7 August 2012

Bistrot Les Tontons : Two versatile summer wines from our 2012 Summer Selection

Selected by Gérald, Pot d'Vache (Gamy) is currently featuring amongst our 2012 'Summer Selection' of wines being served at Bistrot Les Tontons.

'Un vin de soif', this light and fruity red is a versitile summer wine and can be enjoyed alone as an apéritif, or enjoyed alongside saucisson, rillette and galipette (stuffed mushrooms).

A fun label, a lovely little find, Pot d'Vache won't disappoint.

Another of Bistrot Les Tontons 2012 'Summer Selection' is Blet Tendre, a fruity white wine (combo of chenin blanc & tri-selection), as well as being a rare find !

Over the last few decades production of chenin wines from the départment 79, Deux-Sèrves has disappeared but Domaine des Terres Blances continues the tradition.

Selected by Gérald, Blet Tendre is perfect served alone for the apéritif. Equally enjoyable alongside cheese and one wine most definitely not to be ignored this summer !

Bistrot Les Tontons
1 bis Place Saint Pierre
49400 Saumur
e: bistrotlestontons@gmail.com
t: +33 (0)2 41 59 59 40

Thursday, 2 August 2012

Go Team GB ! London 2012 Olympic Games

During the month of June a package arrived for me from Sue & Paul, our clients for a number of years who have become treasured friends.

With great anticipation I opened my package and inside was a parcel reading 'do not open until Team GB have won their 1st Gold medal'.

With London 2012 Olympic fever in the Beaumont household; London having been my home for 16 years, and having Team GB and Team France to cheer on, my parcel was put in a safe place until Team GB struck Gold.

Yesterday, upon learning Helen Glover & Heather Stanning had won Team GB's 1st Gold medal in the womens rowing pair, at Olypmic speed my parcel was unwrapped.

Thrilled with my Union Jack mug a celebratory cuppa was brewed and it tasted FANTASTIC !!

It wasn't long before the kettle was boiling again after seeing Bradley Wiggins win Gold and Chris Froome win Bronze.

And... with Rebbecca Adlington qualifying with ease. GB's lightweight rowing four winning Silver, and Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton to start their campaigns I am quiet sure more cuppa's are on their way.