Back into Chablis this morning. Surrounding roads totally encrusted with cars parked French style. Wedge our 4x4 into a Grand Cru vineyard. Class parking, Henry!
Town is shut to all traffic and.... heaving! Everywhere the paper flowers. Even floating on the river. Two years work apparently.
You buy your tasting glass for €5 and the cradle thing to hang it round your neck for another €. And you look for the wine stands. But there are just five - for all this lot - and of course the French don't do queuing! Bit of a ruck. And it's only one wine! The 'Cuvée Saint Vincent 2009' blended from every Chablis available, by 'The Committee'. It's very good. But I think our Laithwaites and STWC Festivals are a bit more exciting.
How many times can you taste the same wine? Well, lots.. from what I could see. After all you need to wash down copious amounts of Andouillette, Saucisse Chablisienne, Escargots, Gougeres and Frites with everything. Babies to Grannies are all here. Speeches on loudspeakers going on and on and on! And more 'la la la clappiness'.
But hey, this is Feb 6th, the places is top to toe flowers and everyone is happy. That's good, isn't it.
Now we're in the old Toyota bus racing south to Ste Colombe/Castillon, just passing Limoges, the sun's come out, sky is blue, good rocking Blues on the radio.
Moments like this were, I remember, when I made my mind up I was going to spend my whole life in this business. It was on those van trips down to Bordeaux for wine in the beginning! 40 years on, still its "Kansas City here I come, gonna get me some etc" blasting the speakers. Rock on Bordeaux Direct. This is the life all right.
La la la indeed.
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