Bordeaux

The cold woke me at 4. House run out of gas again and the heating pump's dead anyway. Ah ... France in winter.

But sun came blazing up in a clear sky so by 10, sweltering in 15 degrees rinsing out new barrels in bright sun ... for the 2010 to go in. It's quite heavy work for an old guy who doesn't usually do more than tap a keyboard but I love it. Love the physicality. Love also the smell of brand new oak.

Why is that? Because I can imagine that taste incorporated deliciously in the wine? Or because my grandfathers both had carpentry sheds and that smell triggers ancient happy memories of the first times I was treated to being taken to exciting grown-up work places?

People drive past. Maybe stop to catch me up with events here. Daniel has ripped up his vineyard next door, for replanting.

Lunch we go into Castillon to the 'Voyageurs' with the crowd from Le Chai. In the back room with all the town reprobates.

More barrel work P.M. Get sunburn! All wine tucked away in barrels. Tanks rinsed. Looks immaculate.

Jean-Marc offers dinner at LaClariere. His usual killer chloresterol menu;
Black pudding to start. With black radish and butter.
Then some pork ribs done in the oven and crisped on the fire.
Then some pork belly done similarly.
And duck heart brochettes stuffed with bacon.
Lots of screaming and swearing..he never uses oven gloves. Not 'manly'.
Cheese.

To bed with a fistful of statins.