The Terroirs · 03 · Northern Ireland, Down
Dundrum Bay
At the foot of the Mourne Mountains
Dundrum Bay is a conche in Northern Ireland, in County Down, overlooked by the Mourne Mountains. La Famille Boutrais raises Ostra Regal and Sentinelle there, at an even lower density than in Bannow.
The swell that polishes the shell
The bay is vast: a gentle swell forms and slowly rolls the oysters. The result is a round, polished, hard shell. Fresh water mingles with sea water, yet no river flows in — the oyster takes on a taste more briny than sweet.
What this terroir gives the oyster
A very fleshy super-spéciale, more briny than sweet, with a round, polished shell.
The terroir at a glance
| Country | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| County / town | Down |
| Type | Conche (land-locked tidal bay) |
| Grade | Super-spéciale |
| Role in the house | Refining in the conche |
Raised here
Nautical chart
The chart
Watch the bay empty and fill with the tide, and the rivers pour their nutrients into it.
Low tideHigh tide
- Nutrients carried in by the rivers
- Open-sea water (rising tide)