Good news and sad news

I can't claim to know much about US wine importer Joe Dressner who sadly died of cancer this week but I do know that he did almost more than anyone else to raise the profile of natural wines in the states.

There have been a number of fine tributes* by US wine writers and bloggers including this intensely personal post from Alice Feiring, and affectionate reminiscences from Jon Bonné of the San Francisco Chronicle and Eric Asimov of the New York Times who also wrote a more formal obituary here. He sounded like quite a guy.

And the good news? That two natural wine champions were honoured in last night's Louis Roederer International Wine Writers' Awards. Alice as Online Wine Writer of the Year for her posts on Alice Feiring and Max Allen for his marvellous book The Future Makers: Australian Wines for the 21st century which my husband is currently reading - and so am I when I can prise it away from him. Congratulations to both of them.

*there's also another eloquent one here on Wine Terroirs.

Le Pichenouille, Maury

Another good natural wine bar and shop, this time in Maury, run by negociant Jean Pla - or it was when we went there on Saturday. Apparently he’s handing over to someone else this week.

Unlike the Xadic del Mar Le Pichenouille is more of a restaurant with two long shared tables, one inside and one outside. The menu is simpe with a choice of 2 dishes - 15€ for two courses 19.50€ for three.



The food is simple but well cooked and based on good ingredients - I had a tartine of goats cheese, my husband serrano ham and pan con tomate then we both had slow braised pig’s cheek which went well with a dark brambly Clos d’Origine Les Quilles Libres (l’equilibre - geddit?), a local, organic blend of grenache, syrah and carignan we picked off the shelves for 20€. (They list wine at the same price they sell it in the shop.)


Despite the fact they decanted it it had some pretty tough tannins though was fine with the pork - and better still when we drank it, lightly chilled, the following day.

33, ave Jean Jaurès, 66460 Maury.
Tel: 04 68 59 02 18
www.restocave.com

Incidentally it was thanks to this guide by Michel Tuz and Alice Feiring which lists both natural wine producers and wine bars that we found the Xadic del Mar and the Pichenouille. Well worth getting if you're travelling around France.