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20-Apr-2002

Luncheon at the Colchester Oyster Fisheries

Colchester, as I was soon to learn, is rightly famous for its Oysters. After spending the morning tasting Beaucastel wine with Pierre Perrin, we were transported to the Oyster Fisheries at East Mersea.
There, by the purification water beds where the oysters must spend at least 48 hours before being consumed, we were told the intricate cultured oysters story. How and why and where they grow, with a few other technical aspects of their life cycle.
After the educative tour and the reception glass of champagne, we were ushered to the second floor of the fisheries building for a "light" lunch with more Perrin and Colombo wines to taste.

One dozen Colchester Native Oysters
Locally smoked organic salmon
Cold Tiger prawns in their shell
1999 Cotes du Rhone Blanc 'Les Figuieres', J-L Colombo
2000 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Blanc, Perrin
______
Cheese: Devon oke, Devon blue, Isle of Mull
1998 Vacqueyras, Perrin
1998 Cornas 'Les Mejeans', J-L Colombo
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Cafetiere coffee and coconut fudge


I am very fond of oysters, and I have tasted them all over the world. But I have never tasted anything like these ones. Succulent, firm texture, fleshy but not fat. Almost meaty... As they say in the red Michelin guide about three stars restaurant: "worth a trip"!
The salmon was also of superb quality. More light brown than the usual pink. Delicate, tender and extremely tasty.

1999 J-L Colombo, Cotes du Rhone Blanc 'Les Figuieres' - Same as at last night tasting: Simple flowery acidic white wine. Fresh and drinkable, but nothing more.
Passable. MARK 14/20.
2000 Perrin, Coudoulet de Beaucastel Blanc - Simple white again. But this one is much better. Sweetish ripe fruit with a spicy edge. Good intensity, round and balanced.
Good-plus. MARK 16.5/20.
1998 Perrin, Vacqueyras - Syrah and Grenache here. Simple nose and coarse on the palate. Four-squared and lacking finesse.
Average. MARK 13/20.
1998 J-L Colombo, Cornas 'Les Mejeans' - Black fruit and chocolate on the nose. Good flavors if not really complex.
Good. MARK 16/20.


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Jacob "Yak" Shaya.