St Colombe. Everyone now has another reason to come down to Bordeaux. The 'Comptoir de Genes' is now fully open.

Just too late for our recent party down there ... but on time and on budget. Miracle wrought by the adorable (but fiercely energetic) Anne-Marie.

Now you can dine elegantly and very well in St Colombe's next door village. To do 'elegant' when all around you are cases of wine – it’s a wine warehouse as well, with tables set between piles of boxes - that's not easy. But she's done it. It’s the coolest space around!

The Story

We've always got our groceries Chez Guimberteau at St Genes – a short bike ride or long vineyard walk away. (I even have an old pic of the Sixties we went with Old Charlo the Mule and a buggy). A great shop. A real shop. (I do not enjoy supermarkets). And its being also a Bar was no drawback.

But ... old Guimberteau started getting a bit creaky - as you would, 40-odd years of never shutting except Christmas Day. And wanted to sell. No takers! Facing the loss of the heart and soul of her little village, Madame le Maire; Claudy Gomme ( 'our' Claudy - with us since 1974) appealed for help.

One of her parishioners; Anne-Marie was keen to pack-in her commuting to Paris Banking job, spend more time with her young family and run the enterprise. We, as big fans of that 'Grand Designs' programme, were intrigued by the possibilities of the semi-derelict buildings. The Pound was strong – then – so we bought the buildings and she bought the business.

To cut this short; as well as shopping and having a little drink, you can now dine in a new, beautifully restored high roofed space – bit like a church nave – and dine very well but simply and affordably.

Check out Anne-Marie's website. And pay a visit. You can buy most of the La Clarière wines there at the same price as at the winery. In fact all the wines – mostly Cotes de Castillons – are at ex-cellars prices. These are of course much lower than the UK. In fact they are much lower than just down the road. Starting at €4! You don't get down anywhere near that in St. Emilion!

The wines of all the good local growers are here; from Domaine de l'A and Aguille, us ... and many more.

Le Comptoir de Genes isn't one of our Companies, it’s all Anne-Marie. But I would be so delighted to see this little example of a rural renaissance succeed. And I know all of my customers would just love it – and meeting Anne-Marie, Claudy, their families, all the staff of the Comptoir and all the inhabitants of St Genes and surrounding villages.

See you at the bar. Mine's a 'petit rosé'.



(Claudy Gomme, Kaye Laithwaite, me and Anne-Marie Galineaud in Le Cave a Vin restaurant.)

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