Beaujolais

This is going to be an interesting trip. France riots, roadblocks and no fuel apparently. Mmm! But then there's Yves our regular French photographer saying "Faut pas être paranoide, Tony". All very well for someone spends much of his time embedded with US troops in Afghanistan. Everything is relative. Anyway BA is flying and I'm aboard. Che sera, sera.  

....And we landed... eerily quiet Lyon airport, but not blockaded. So up to Beaujolais and Jean-Marc Pardon.
There he is by the side of the main street, loading our truck with the last of the Vielle Vignes Fleurie '09 that won the Decanter trophy and that's selling extremely well right now. I say 'our' truck. It's got Irish number plates and a Polish driver but the labels all say 'Laithwaites'. 

We try the 2010 Nouveau ... good but we haven't bought it. Helen and I are focused on these amazing '09's.  We may not see their like again.

Then into the vineyards to see these ancient vines - planted 1902 - that give forth this nectar. The little, low 'goblet' vines at their most beautiful; lots of reds and golds in the green. So lots of photos.

Writing this (Blackberry) sitting on the cold granite ground in Jean-Marc's Fleurie vineyard as the sun goes down... and Yves takes his 300th shot. Frostbite in the B; bloody photograpers! 

Ah but here's a nice email about the new list - or magazine as some are calling it;

"...much better - more wines, more collections and some good offers. Also interesting information about producers and wine types.

I also have to say that your phone staff are the best... more knowledgeable than any other sales people I have encountered. They must walk around in a constant alcoholic haze through sampling so many of your wines! I think it was Sally who took my order last week - brilliant phone manner and knowledge - persuaded me to spend more than intended - and that is not a complaint!"

Asked if I could quote him, he added;

" ...no problem with Tony or anybody else at Laithwaites sharing my comments via his blog or any other medium you choose. It is just great to be able to buy great wine at reasonable prices from a company that obviously looks after it's staff well and employs people on it's phone lines with knowledge and an excellent phone manner whilst trusting them to show flexibility to ensure customers are satisfied."

Thank you Peter Smith. Great encouragement.

Now let's see if we can get to Chablis without blockades or running out of diesel. 

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