EXCITEMENT FROM THE FUTURE, TRIBUTE FROM THE PAST

OCTOBER 2015

The 2015 harvest continues to excite growers, with CHRISTINE VERNAY and YVES GANGLOFF at CONDRIEU speaking of their pleasure at the quality of the crop, even if the grapes have been small and yields reduced. Down at CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE the CHÂTEAUX of BEAUCASTEL and RAYAS and the eminent CLOS DES PAPES have all been harvesting in the first week of October, content as anything with the quality of their GRENACHE: “we receive grapes like these once every ten years,” EMMANUEL REYNAUD of RAYAS told me.

Amidst such excitements occurred a precious wine moment, when life was placed in perspective thanks to the extraordinary work of the late NOËL VERSET of CORNAS. A Tribute dinner was held in London for his life from 4 December 1919 to 11 September 2015, and this has been celebrated under the GOINGS ON tab. I hope all of you will raise a glass of Cornas to him in the coming weeks.