Day 4 Tuesday June 28 2011
9.30 am and after a good nights sleep everyone was onboard the bus and ready to head of to H. Blin for our first visit for the day. H. Blin is a co-operative producing excellent champagne in the Vallee de la Marne. We were met by their marketing manager Francois Gigandet who explained the reasons behind the existance of the co-op before taking us on a very informative tour of the cellars. The tour was concluded with an excellent tasting of Blin champagne.

After the visit to H. Blin it was back onto the bus for our return journey along the beautiful Vallee de la Marne to Ay. Awaiting our arrival was the Goutorbe family who had prepared a fabulous lunch for us complimented by their superb champagnes. The whole family produced an excellent lunch on what was a very warm day and Bertrands excellent duck is worthy of special mention.
Relief from the heat wasn't far away as we were taken on a tour of the cellars straight after lunch. The cellars in champagne remain at a constant 13C and this was ideal after the 35C we had been experiencing above ground. Etienne Goutorbe conducted the tour through the winding caves beneath the village of Ay explaining the champagne process as we went.

After the tour, tour members had time to relax before our evening tasting of Blanc de Blancs.

Line up of H. Blin champagnes tasted by our group.

Etienne Goutorbe explains the champagne process.

Wines tasted on this day were; H. Blin Brut NV, 2004, Rose NV and 1990 from the museum. At Goutorbe we tasted Cuvee Prestige from magnum that Rene Goutorbe had set aside for our lunch. Rose, and Special Club 2004, 2002 and 1998. For our Blanc de Blancs tasting we tasted Billecart-Salmon 1998, Le Hayre de Maria NV from Avize and Pol Roger 2000. All excellent champagnes.