October. We picked up a car in Paris and drove through all the towns that had been in our minds. We met many great friends, drank a lot… Here’s flashback from our trip. More interviews and stories to follow.
DAY 1/ PARIS. dinner at Chateaubriand
DAY 2/ PARIS. lovely long walk on St Germain
DAY3/ PARIS. best andouillette sausage at Le Verre Vole
DAY4/ COGNAC. amazing small producer Michel Forgeron
DAY4/ COGNAC. Christophe Forgeron (Michel’s son) shared a 40-year-old cognac among other old barrels. mind-blowing
DAY6/ BORDEAUX. visit Chateau Pichon Lalande in Pauillac
DAY7/ BORDEAUX. Chateau Haut Bailly; a parcel of its vines are 100-year-old mixed varietals
DAY8/ BORDEAUX. stunning St Emilion town, surrounded by prestigious right bank vineyards
DAY9/ SAUTERNES. noble-rot berries were still hanging
DAY9/ ARMAGNAC. column still rather than pot still in cognac; full of rich aroma and flavors
DAY10/ TOULOUSE. one of the best markets – Marche Victor Hugo
DAY11/ AVIGNON. revealed its beauty after all tourists were gone
DAY12/ ORANGE. Roman theater of orange (from outside)
DAY13/ CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE. visit Chateau La Nerthe
DAY13/ CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE. very stony soil in Chateau La Nerthe vineyards
DAY13/ VOIRON. visit Chartreuse, impressive monks’ operation
DAY15/ LYON. gastronomic capital
DAY15/ LYON. chefs’ favorite wine joint in town, Georges 5
DAY15/ LYON. as night got deeper, Georges opened a ’72 Cheval Blanc magnum
DAY17/ ARBOIS. almost spiritual wine region
DAY18/ PONTARLIER. breathtaking scenery btw Salins-les-Bains and Pontarlier
DAY19/ PONTARLIER. visit Pontarlier-Anis and Emile Pernot; sampled 8 REAL Absinthes in the latter
DAY20/ BURGUNDY. Route des Grands Crus, in awe of the greatest vineyards in the world
DAY20/ BEAUNE. Cafe du Square – impressive Burgundy wine list w great prices. next to a famous enology school where ‘kids’ get together, talk and drink serious wine out of decanters with the owner’s killer ipod in the background. ah, france.
DAY21/ BEAUNE. legendary bistro Ma Cuisine
DAY22/ MEURSAULT. visit Domaine Matrot, Elsa is the 3th generation of Matrot. really exceptional wines
DAY23/ BEAUNE. marche (market) day in Beaune, even on a chilly wet morning
DAY24/ EPERNAY. Moet & Chandon cellar, spanning nearly 20 miles of Epernay’s chalky soil belly since the 1700s
DAY24/ EPERNAY. visit the Abbey where Dom Perignon gave birth to the bubbly after his corks kept popping off – God bless bottle fermentation
DAY25/ PARIS. triumphant return to Paris
DAY25-31/ PARIS. shakespeare & co.
DAY25-31/ PARIS. left bank & co.
DAY25-31/ PARIS. second sex & co.
DAY25-31/ PARIS. existentialist & co.
DAY25-31/ PARIS. Saint Germain – every morning
DAY25-31/ PARIS. Le Cardinal, the son, and the chef
“FIN”
