Jean Louis Bersan 2012 Bourgogne Epineuil Red

We bought half a dozen bottles  of 2012 Bersan 2012 Bourgogne Epineuil red in the Leclerc supermarket in Troyes donkey's years ago. It said on the back of the bottle that you could keep it for seven years. We opened the last bottle a couple of weeks ago and drank it with some roast chicken.  We weren't disappointed as the wine had matured well on its side and in the cool. The wine was fantastic.

Epineuil is one of my favourite Burgundy wines. It is difficult to find in the UK and we always buy it in France either from the vineyard itself or from a local off licence or supermarket.

I seem to remember that this particular wine was bought for under 10 EUR a bottle. You won't find it at this price anymore.

This wine is typical of the appellation. It is made from Pinot Noir grapes.  It tasted of red and black fruits, it was of light to medium body and the tannin had softened. It was well balanced for acidity and sweetness and was dry on the palate and the taste remained for a long time. It had all the hallmarks of a very good wine which was excellent value for money.

The Epineuil appellation is very close to the town of Tonnerre, which is in the far north west of Burgundy and close to the Champagne border. The soil here is kimmeridgian and  limestone. The wine has the goût de terroir of the region. It is one of the few red wines that my wife and I  can identify easily -"blind", because we have drunk so much of it over the years, and because some of my wife's family come from the area. No other wine in the world has its distinctive taste and character. No one is able to copy it either in France or elsewhere. The climate, soil and vineyard combination cannot be copied

The Kings of France used to drink this wine  and no wonder. You need to search this appellation out as it represents exceptional value for money. Tonnerre and it surrounding area is also worth locating and visiting.

https://www.bourgogne-wines.com/our-wines-our-terroir/the-bourgogne-winegrowing-region-and-its-appellations/bourgogne-epineuil,2458,9253.html?&args=Y29tcF9pZD0yMjc4JmFjdGlvbj12aWV3RmljaGUmaWQ9MjQ0Jnw%3D

https://www.google.com/search?q=kimmeridgian+soil+map&oq=kimmeridgian+&aqs=chrome.2.0j69i57j0l6.20781j1j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Restaurant Le Saint Père in Tonnerre

Last week we went to Tonnerre to buy some of my favorite red wine -Epineuil. Before buying our wine we had lunch in the Restaurant Le Saint Père in the Rue Georges Pompidou. We entered  the restaurant which was a little dark inside to be greeted by tables occupied by local people. The restaurant was full and we got the one remaining table for two left.  We had a chat to two gentlemen dining beside us. The food they were eating looked gorgeous. We decided on two menus and shared the starter and dessert. The starter of Terrine of smoked beef was one of the best we have ever tasted. We followed up with Bavette steak and chips The steak was really well seasoned and the chips were great. We shared a Vacherin for dessert and this was another fabulous dish. Vacherin is a meringue based dessert but it should not be confused with the cheese of the same name. The starter and dessert were home made by the chef. The restaurant and service was unpretentious and just as we like it . The presentation of the food was not Michelin starred but the taste and quality of the food was; if not better. We washed the food down with half a bottle of 2016 Dampt Freres Epineuil rouge. We had a great meal and wine in a friendly environment for 63,20 Eur. This was tremendous value for money. I highly recommend the restaurant and it is worth going to Tonnerre just to eat here.

https://www.google.com/search?q=restaurant+saint+pere+a+tonnerre&oq=restaurant+saint+pere+a+tonnerre&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l6.10309j1j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8