Le Du's Wines

• February 2010

  Some Paris tips: 1. Enclos De Ninon (A L') 19-21 Boulevard Beaumarchais; 75004 Traditional French, not cheap, but shouldn't break the bank either. Really first class food. Used to be a favorite hangout of the press corps back in the Salinger days. 2. Charlot, Roi des Coquillages,... Read moreSome Paris tips: 1. Enclos De Ninon (A L') 19-21 Boulevard Beaumarchais; 75004 Traditional French, not cheap, but shouldn't break the bank either. Really first class food. Used to be a favorite hangout of the press corps back in the Salinger days. 2. Charlot, Roi des Coquillages, 12,place de Clichy Authorized Bouillabaise, lovely oysters, drink Blanc de Blancs de Cassis with it. 3. Le Beau Violet Cuisine: Corsican Address: 92 rue des Entrepreneurs, 75015 Paris Postage stamp sized restuarant, isolated location, reasonable price, bring cash, no CC, chef Roger is reliable, try the grilled, stuffed sardines and the cheese plate at the end. Selection of cheap Corsican wines. 4. Restaurant de la Maison Fournaise Ile des Impressionnistes 3, rue du Bac 78400 Chatou Put yourself in a Renoir painting, only go for lunch, in the dark you don't get the views. Just some ideas I know you will enjoy above. Some more ideas in addition to the obvious ones like Notre Dame, Louvre, Tour Eiffel, les Invalides, which are musts, etc: 1. Go late at night and see the best nighttime view of Paris from Montmartre in front of Sacre Coeur, who cares if Sacre Coeur is closed, it is not the greatest inside, but you will see over the rooftops, which at this time of year are steaming smoke and in the distance the tower is lit up. Walk to the place du tertre and have a late night beer at “Au Clairon des Chasseurs” and enjoy the accordion music. 2. Latin Quarter: Walk around the block that contains the Le Procope • 13 rue de l'Ancienne Comédie - 75006 Paris, just up the street on the corner Blvd. St. Germain is the Odeon, a Belle Epoque Bar, behind the Procope is a little street with heavy arched stone paving that will show you what Paris streets were like at the time of the Revolution. Look into the Procope and see the décor, do not eat there. In general walk around the Latin Quarter, Ile de la Cite and Ile St. Louis, so this little visit would be part of that itinerary. Do not eat at the restaurants in the Latin Quarter, they advertise menus, but are not worth anything, if you are hungry, get a sandwich Grec with French fries and walk around. If you are in this area late night you can get a good onion soup at “Le Petit Pont”, place du Petit Pont, next to the Shakespeare Book Shop with view on Notre Dame. Their prices are reasonable and the terrasse is even heated. Last note, sometimes the top restaurants offer a drastically reduced and fixed price menu for lunch, for example, La Tour d’Argent, view on Notre Dame, the choices are limited a little like Bistro format, but for a fraction of the price you can get into some really terrific food (and say you have been there ). If you want to see the worlds most amazing stained glass windows take the train to Chartres, with TGV you can go and come back all in around 4 hours. Leave early in the morning and then before touring the Cathedrale have a nice coffee or tea across the street with unbelievable cakes at “la Reine du Saba.” I could make some more suggestions of course, but you will have too many things to do, but these are some things, which I think will make your visit more enjoyable. Have a wonderful visit. Bon Voyage, Dirk    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic France for 1st time, only for... by dirkwdeyoung

  
  

• January 2010

  There are several other good producers of muscadet that I've enjoyed. The first three that pop to mind are: --Chéreau-Carré http://www.snooth.com/wine/chereau-carre-muscadet-de-sevre-et-maine-chateau-loiseliniere-de-la-ramee-2005/ --Pierre Luneau-Papin... Read moreThere are several other good producers of muscadet that I've enjoyed. The first three that pop to mind are: --Chéreau-Carré http://www.snooth.com/wine/chereau-carre-muscadet-de-sevre-et-maine-chateau-loiseliniere-de-la-ramee-2005/ --Pierre Luneau-Papin http://www.snooth.com/wine/2005-domaine-pierre-de-la-grange-pierre-luneau-papin-muscadet-sevre-et-maine-le-l-dor-white-wine-white-varietal-loire-750-ml-2005/ --Domaine de la Louvetrie http://www.snooth.com/wine/domaine-de-la-louvetrie-muscadet-de-sevre-et-maine-sur-lie-le-fief-du-breil-2005/ A number of wine snobs like to turn their noses up at muscadet, but all four of these houses I've recommended produce extremely good wines, and have often shocked me with their lemon-gold, crystal-clear appearance, energetically flirty herb, citrus and stone-fruit aromas, fresh but powerfully tangy and citrussy palate, with a not quite chalk but powdered stone edge to it. Impressive impact, sensuous weight, great zip and acidity, through to the chalky finish. Not a chardonnay, nor a sauvignon blanc but a melon de bourgogne that sneaks its way past many of the others up to real quality. I'll move up the Loire next, I think...    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Help me think outside... by dmcker

  
  

• January 2010

  Sous Henri III Beychevelle fut le fief des Ducs d'Epernon et notamment du premier d'entre eux : Jean-Louis Nogaret de la Valette. Grand Amiral de France, Gouverneur de Guyenne. Homme tout-puissant puisque, selon la légende, les navires passant devant son château devaient baisser... Read moreSous Henri III Beychevelle fut le fief des Ducs d'Epernon et notamment du premier d'entre eux : Jean-Louis Nogaret de la Valette. Grand Amiral de France, Gouverneur de Guyenne. Homme tout-puissant puisque, selon la légende, les navires passant devant son château devaient baisser leurs voiles en signe d'allégeance. D'où le nom de Beychevelle signifiant "Baisse-Voile" et l'emblème du château, un navire à proue de griffon, gardien du cratère de vin de Dionysos Thus the name of the Chateau Beychevelle, means that you lower your sail to salut the owner of the chateau, who at that time was a great admiral in France, so all ships passing the chateau, needed to lower their emblem in salut, thus in the label of the chateau, you see a ship, which is quite unusual for a wine label.    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Historically named regional... by dirkwdeyoung

  
  

• January 2010

  Talking with Etienne de Montille And tasting his wines at Montreal Passion Vin The Domaine de Montille is one of those wineries whose wines tend to polarize people. Their wines make no concessions to the immediately drinkable, lush, and rich wines that are... Read more Talking with Etienne de Montille And tasting his wines at Montreal Passion Vin The Domaine de Montille is one of those wineries whose wines tend to polarize people. Their wines make no concessions to the immediately drinkable, lush, and rich wines that are favored by many critics these days. Instead the de Montilles continue to make wines that speak of their place and season.  Traditions begun by the father, Hubert de Montille, are now faithfully carried out (since 2001) by the son, Etienne,, who continues to create Terroirist Burgundies of the highest order. And therein lies the rubs, well just a little bit of it. Many people heap acclaim on the wines of de Montille based more on philosophy, as opposed to the wines themselves. What to expect: Burgundy The incredibly complex and elegant expression of Pinot Noir is Burgundy's grand allure. No other wine region has been able to coax so much from this fickle grape. With its gentle structure cloaked in wonderfully precise yet transparent fruit tones that range from cranberry to black cherry, Burgundy is a wine that reveals itself slowly. Traditional techniques used in the region, such as including stems in the fermentation and utilizing neutral wood barrels for aging, allow the wine to achieve a level of complexity that few can match. Find out more about Burgundy Now don’t get me wrong, I am definitely not knocking the wines. I am knocking some of the reviews and comments on the wines in their youth. In our rush to embrace the “right” way of doings thing, to our minds, sometimes we loose sight of what is being done. If you’re going to be telling everyone how good they are the least you can do is prepare people for the de Montille experience. I was fortunate to be able to catch up with Etienne at the recent Montreal Passion Vin and spoke with him briefly about the world of wine, of of course Burgundy.       [PAGEBREAK] Now about what is being done at de Montille in Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune. The wines are being produced in an idiosyncratic style. These are wines that are never chapalized (sugar added to increase alcohol) not are they particularly heavily oaked, 25% new wood in any given being the norm. In fact these are wines that combine a delicacy and gentle demeanor with the stony, sometimes aggressively mineral quality that many of the great Côte de Beaune vineyards exhibit, particularly in their youth. These are wines whose charms emerge with age. There is no impression of sweetness from toasty oak, nor elevated alcohol, to seduce the palate when these wines are young, and the truth is even when mature these are wines that require participation for the consumer. And here is the crux of my complaint. Many people whom report favorably about the new releases of these wines fail to grasp who involved tasting them young can be. These are not hedonistic wines in their youth; hell some never become remotely hedonistic. They are wines of detail, wines of balance, wines of finesse. Never destined to win blind tastings, these are wines you look forward to enjoying through a long meal, or sharing with like-minded friends. The Domaine de Montille is renowned for their production of wines from the Côte de Beaune, a region generally more highly thought of for white wines than reds, though the great reds of the region offer some of the most compelling values in Burgundy.  There is also the firm of Deux Montille Soeur Frère, owned by the same family but created to produce negociant wines, that is wine made from purchased fruit and must, under the somewhat confusing label Deux Montille. While these are fine wines they don’t approach, yet, the wines that come from the de Montille’s own vineyards.  Some 11 hectares (about 30 acres) are under vine, with only three hectare being white grapes, Chardonnay of course. Most of the vines enjoy some of the prime positions in the great vineyards of the Côte de Beaune; Les Rugiens and Les Pezerolles in Pommard, Clos Du Roi in Corton, Le Cailleret in Puligny-Montrachet, and Les Taillepieds, Les Champans, and Les Mitans in Volnay. [PAGEBREAK] This tasting was split, with three vintages each of the fine Le Cailleret and the imposing Les Mitans. My notes are below. Oh and by the way, the wines are Biodynamic, not that anybody needs to mention that. Domaine de Montille Produces both White and Red Burgundy Puligny - Montrachet 1er Cru Le Cailleret We tasted the 2002, 2001, and 1998 of this rare gem Le Cailleret has some very fine, and famous, neighbors. In fact Le Cailleret shares borders with Chevalier-Montrachet, Batard-Montrachet, and Montrachet itself. With such esteemed company it's not surprising that the wines from this slighty pebbly, Le Cailleret is derived from the French word for pebble, captures the mineral rich, elegant yet not fruit driven style that defines the finest wines of Puligny.  Find my tasting notes here. Volnay 1er Cru Les Mitans The 2003, 1998, and 1995 Vintages all showed promise Les Mitans lies atop a rather clay rich part of Volnay, and thus produces fruit that is a bit richer than some of the more assertively minerally wines from neighboring parcels. In some ways Mitans straddles the line that separates the power of Pommard from the silk of Volany. Nonetheless, in the hands of de Montille this is classic Volnay with floral overtones on the nose and a delicacy and transparency on the palate that few wines can match. Find my tasting notes here. Puligny – Montrachet 1er Cru Le Cailleret 2002 - Sweet Asian pair backed up with integrated wood spice greets the nose. Notes of buttered almonds, honeycomb, pressed flowers and a hint of anise all add nuanced complexities. This has tremendous acidity and richness in the mouth but exhibits such harmony and wonderful balance that one barely notices the power. This already is exhibiting rich, fresh fruit on the palate with a slightly creamy edge to the Asian pear and Fuji apple toned fruit of the mid-palate that is followed by a long mineral and earth laden finish that leads to a fantastically ripe fruit tone on the finale. This has just brilliant tension in the mouth. 95pts 2001 - In comparison to the brilliant 2002 this vintage exhibits a more soil driven nose with less freshness. The fruit aromas veer off slightly to the dried orchard fruit end of the spectrum and are joined by tremendous spice notes that recall gingerbread with undertones of lemon verbena and hot iron. In the mouth this is rich and bright with a hint of tannin and very bright acids. Powerful with a muscular finish rich in glycerin, this trades some of the purity and elegance found in the 2002 for richness. This remains quite youthful, certainly less giving than the 2002, but shows promise for the future. 92pts 1998 - This offers up a huge bouquet of funky notes that range from sulfury tones of spicy greens to dirt, earth, and nutty, brittle tones. Crisp, with a noticeable touch of wood still on entry and brilliant acids helping to drive the toast, dried pear and mineral flavors across the palate but then this drops off quite quickly. The inner mouth perfume is very complex and intruding, mirroring the aromas, but all in all this bottle is disappointing and most likely a victim of the vintage. 87pts   Volnay 1er Cru Les Mitans 2003 - Very sweetly fruited on the nose with a pronounced floral character and bright mineral underpinnings to the lightly roasted fruit. This smells like a bowl of warm cherries with subtle spice and ginger tones. Slightly chewy in the mouth this is full of ripe tannins balanced by slightly soft acids that allow the sweetness of the fruit to be revealed. There is surprising freshness to the curranty and apricot glaze tinged fruit on the mid-palate but this shows it’s youth on the backend, which is lean and compressed ending with a somewhat abrupt finish.  A very successful 2003. 91pts 1998 - Very ripe fruits on the nose with a distinct roasted character and fleshy tones. This has a nice tight floral tone over a base of ash and blue clay. With air a fine very ripe stem tone adds freshness to the fruit.  In the mouth this shows nice ripeness, though the tannins feel just a touch green. The acids are a touch soft giving a fairly rich feel to the spicy, wild berry fruit. The finish reveals a wash of minerality but ends with some drying, raw tannins. 90pts 1995 - Still very tight on the nose, one has to coax out the slightly stemmy wild cherry toned fruit. With air a more sunburned fruit tone emerges with very fine soisbois and floral, almost rose, accents. In the mouth this is very acid driven with burnished cherry fruit and a touch of dried strawberry but the palate remains a fairly tight ball of fruit and fine tannins. The finish reveals mineral and sousbois notes with emerging length and a subtle finale. 93pts        (hide)

  From the article Domaine de Montille

  
  

• December 2009

  A little over....how many hectares of MALBEC ..I DO NOT KNOW, but MALBEC is the dominant grape variety in AOC CAHORS WINES. At the recent FIRST INTERNATIONAL MALBEC COMPETITION held in CAHORS, FRANCE, some of the GOLD WINNERS were DOMAINE du PRINCE cuvee LOU PRINCE 2004 and CHATEAU... Read moreA little over....how many hectares of MALBEC ..I DO NOT KNOW, but MALBEC is the dominant grape variety in AOC CAHORS WINES. At the recent FIRST INTERNATIONAL MALBEC COMPETITION held in CAHORS, FRANCE, some of the GOLD WINNERS were DOMAINE du PRINCE cuvee LOU PRINCE 2004 and CHATEAU LA REYNE cuvee PRESTIGE 2007. ALSO Le Pigeonnier 2005..CHATEAU LAGREZETTE.    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Malbec by amour

  
  

• November 2009

  You have four aged clarets that I, for one, would be happy to open and drink. Not the most famous wineries, but likely very interesting, nonetheless. The '82 is generally considered one of the two best vintages in Bordeaux of the last 45 years, and one of the 3 or 4 best after 1945.... Read moreYou have four aged clarets that I, for one, would be happy to open and drink. Not the most famous wineries, but likely very interesting, nonetheless. The '82 is generally considered one of the two best vintages in Bordeaux of the last 45 years, and one of the 3 or 4 best after 1945. The '85 vintage was also a very good vintage, if not quite as good as the '82. One question is storage. What does 'under the steps' mean? Depending on that, the condition and drinking quality of the wines may vary greatly. If the storage has been good, wines from St. Emilion and the Medoc can still very much be in their prime. Chateau du Barry is a lesser known right-bank, with a hefty chunk of merlot in the blend. It's known for being a solid Lussac, and I recently noted a 3L double-double magnum (Jeroboam) of the 2005 on Ebay, of all places, but I haven't had any that I can remember. Chateau Le Chatelet is in the western part of St. Emilion, on plots where there is history of viticulture from the Roman era. Currently it's being made of 71% merlot and 29% cabernet franc (no cabernet sauvignon at all), though I don't know about the '82. I'd be particularly curious how this tastes now. Here are some tasting notes for the '86 (the '82 is likely to be considerably better than the '86): http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=570745 I haven't had any Chatelet for nearly two decades. Chateau Saint-Christoly is a wine that I've actually had fairly recently. A friend served the 2005 with a magret of duck and cepes mushrooms, for which it was a great match. Deep cherry-red color, supple wine with a rounded bouquet. Spice, red fruit and cassis on the nose and palate. Decent glycerin legs, and the oak seemed well integrated. Quite enjoyable, at a very nice, intimate dinner at my friend's place. Lamb also would've been a good match, I remember thinking. La Paroisse has a much shallower history, being created in 1935 by a cooperative of some 40 growers. It's currently being made of 50% cabernet sauvignon, and 50% merlot. Seems to be positioning itself as good-value-for-price and meant to go with many foods. I haven't had any of this wine. For a humorous picture, here's an '82 La Paroisse magnum with an utterly ravaged label for sale on EBay. Wonder how it's been stored. ;-( http://cgi.ebay.fr/VIN-LA-PAROISSE-1,5-L-GRAND-VIN-DE-BORDEAUX-DE-1982_W0QQitemZ290373040544QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20091123?IMSfp=TL091123237002r547 This is the wine of the four that's most likely to be past its prime. No reason not to drink it, though. If you don't like it, save the remainder for a nice sauce with milder meats. Though the vintages are excellent ones, the labels aren't popular, so there would be little return if you were tempted to try to sell them. My recommendation is to stand them up for a few days (one at a time ;-) ), and drink them either on their own with bread and mild cheese, or with a mildly seasoned matching meal. Would be interested to hear back from you how they taste....    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Help with some wines by dmcker

  
  

• November 2009

  I'm a Scotch guy so forgive my ignorance, I've just found the following bottles under the steps, any insight into possible quality/value would be appreciated. I assume none of these should bother to be opened? 1985 Chateau du Barry, Saint-Emilon 1982 Chateau Le Chatelet,... Read moreI'm a Scotch guy so forgive my ignorance, I've just found the following bottles under the steps, any insight into possible quality/value would be appreciated. I assume none of these should bother to be opened? 1985 Chateau du Barry, Saint-Emilon 1982 Chateau Le Chatelet, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe 1985 Chateai Saint-Christoly Medoc 1982 La Paroisse Haut-Medoc thanks    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Help with some wines by tossedsalad

  
  

• November 2009

  Staying in NZ, then, maybe a good NZ pinot noir might be worth putting aside for at least five years? I recently had a bottle of 2007 Two Paddocks 'Picnic' Pinot Noir. Based on how much better the wine was after having been left open overnight, my guess is that it would also age... Read moreStaying in NZ, then, maybe a good NZ pinot noir might be worth putting aside for at least five years? I recently had a bottle of 2007 Two Paddocks 'Picnic' Pinot Noir. Based on how much better the wine was after having been left open overnight, my guess is that it would also age pretty well. Reading the producers website, they suggest keeping the 2008 vintage til 2016, for both their Picnic Pinot Noir and their (premium) Two Paddocks Pinot Noir: http://twopaddocks.com/wines-picnic-pinot-08.shtml http://twopaddocks.com/wines-tp-08.shtml Of course, you may know other producers whose Pinot Noir you prefer, but it's certainly another one to think about. Oh, and VegasOenophile mentioned sweet and fortified -- maybe some Sauturnes and some vintage port too? I've seen a Sauternes in the shops recently called "Le Tertre du Lys d'Or" for about $50 a half bottle, and one of the stores claims it is the second wine of Château d'Yquem. Maybe, but if so it'd certainly be worth getting a few bottles. I'll have to get at least one to try, when my bank balance is feeling a little bit healthier. Beware, though, that under AOC regulations Sauternes wines are allowed to use cryoextraction in place of botrytis infected fruit, and some cheaper Sauternes do this. This doesn't give as good a wine as that produced from botrytis infected fruit, but it is of course much cheaper to do.    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Long cellar life wines. by penguinoid

  
  

• October 2009

  I am always surprised at how much those last 3 points can cost. 98,99, the magical 100. One thing that I find fascinating is that different markets value these ratings differently, and it's not necessarily demand driven. For example take a look at three Robert Parker 100 point... Read moreI am always surprised at how much those last 3 points can cost. 98,99, the magical 100. One thing that I find fascinating is that different markets value these ratings differently, and it's not necessarily demand driven. For example take a look at three Robert Parker 100 point wines, and I'm not talking about any of his associates which are also valued differently. The 2005 Deus ex Machina Chateauneuf du Pape = +/- $400($75 0n release) 540 cases 2004 Chapoutier Ermitage le Meal Blanc= +/- $ $250 ($250 on release) 266 cases 2005 L'Eglise Clinet =+/- $700 ($260 on release) 1000 cases. So there are 100 pointers and there are 100 pointers. C'est la vie. I have always said that I am most impressed with wines that got 88 to 90 Parker points. With grade inflation that may mean 88-93 points, but I am lucky that way I guess.    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Price/Score Ratio Formula for... by Gregory Dal Piaz

  
  

• October 2009

  I just read this on wine access, and found it interesting. I love a full, rich, chewy wine. Yet, to pay the type of $$$ for a true representation of a good Chateauneuf-du-Pape that is aged well, I cannot and will not. I would rather buy a couple Chateau Montelena Chardonnays and... Read moreI just read this on wine access, and found it interesting. I love a full, rich, chewy wine. Yet, to pay the type of $$$ for a true representation of a good Chateauneuf-du-Pape that is aged well, I cannot and will not. I would rather buy a couple Chateau Montelena Chardonnays and cellar them for a few years. Back to the point. Has anyone ever ventured to actually try the Florianaelle that is mentioned in the following article? I would like to get some feedback from the educated palates here amongst us. Cheers. Sorry for the length, but here is the article in full. **************************************************************************************************************** Domaine Beau Mistral Small Lots #32: A Discovery over Cassoulet When Robert Parker described the 2007 vintage in the southern Rhone as the best "top to bottom" in 30 years, we agreed. But, there's something else that we've discovered in 2007, about which not enough has been said. We like to call these the "super-cuvees," tiny-production bottlings -- usually less than 500 cases -- of astonishingly powerful, long-living, rich and chewy blends that put too many Chateauneuf-du-Papes in their place. What do these wines have that's so special? Tremendous concentration and what the French call la mache, the kind of chewy fruit density that stands up to anything, even JP's cassoulet. We were dining at Regalido in Fontvieille with our winemaker friend, Bruno Lafon, talking about the super cuvees of 2007. We had ordered the requisite cassoulet (more on that below), when Bruno told us about Jean-Marc Brun's super cuvee -- the ancient-vine Rasteau Florianaelle. "The secret to la mache in 2007," Bruno told us "is the Mourvedre." He took a forkful of chef JP's fabulous stew, then said. "If you had Florianaelle with this cassoulet, you may never pay the price of Chateauneuf again." Bruno managed to get us an appointment with the super-talented Jean-Marc Brun at Beau Mistral. We were there for a few hours, before Jean-Marc poured this incredibly rich, dense, fabulously muscular, and (yes) chewy, 2007 Florianaelle. You've never heard of Florianaelle? Few people stateside have. The reason's simple. We got it all! This is a deep-purple, elegant beast of a wine, made from the oldest, choicest portions of this superb estate. Just a few hundred cases were made, 100 of which Jean-Marc has earmarked for WineAccess customers. Free shipping on 4. Reminder on Cellaring: A reminder on this one: Florianaelle has tremendous aging potential, the equal of many 2007 Chateauneufs selling for twice the price. DO NOT drink this too fast. Buyers should open a bottle now to get a taste of Florianaelle's youthful bombast. The other bottles? Wait at least three years for the next. A decade from now, you'll have a treasure in your cellar. Tasting Notes 2007 Domaine Beau Mistral La Cuvee Florianaelle Cotes du Rhone Villages Rasteau "The prodigious 2007 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Rasteau Cuvee Florianaelle is one of the finest wines from this village that I have ever tasted save for that of Domaine La Soumade. This brawny, big-boned, densely concentrated, inky/purple-colored 2007 offers up aromas of black cherry liqueur, licorice, truffles, graphite, and incense. Hugely fruity and exceptionally full-bodied with a boatload of velvety, well-integrated tannins, this stunning Rasteau should drink well for 12-15+ years." 92-94 points-- Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate Le Regalido in Fontvieille Sometimes the concierge gets it just right, and at the Crillon late last fall, she did. We were checking out, on our way to Avignon, and asked her if she knew any place special in the south. She just smiled, pulled out an undersized piece of that incredible Crillon stationery, and with the silver pen wrote: "Le Regalido in Fontvieille. 30 minutes from Avignon. Don't miss the cassoulet!" The log fire was crackling in this 19th-century converted olive oil mill when we arrived. There were just 10 tables in the beautiful Provencal dining room with the stone-vaulted ceiling. The menu was mouth-watering, but we were doing as directed; we ordered the cassoulet all around. Jean-Pierre Michel's (or "JP" as he prefers to be called) cassoulet is no ordinary duck and white bean stew. It's a multi-day labor of love which begins by curing the pork belly and duck for three days. JP then slow cooks the duck legs into a fine confit with fresh thyme, parsley and peppercorns. Then he adds garden rosemary, tomato, white beans, the cured pork belly and sausage and simmers for two and a half hours. If ever a dish was designed for Chateauneuf, this was it. Unless you can do one better: match it with the 2007 Florianaelle from Jean-Marc Brun -- if you can find it. JP approaches cassoulet likes a conservator at the Musee D'Orsay restoring Manet's Luncheon On The Grass...meticulously calculating in every sleight of hand.    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Florianaelle v... by Muchkabouche

  
  

• Aug 6

  Le Du's is a fantastic wine shop in New York's West Village. The staff are friendly and extremely knowledgeable, the selection of wines is huge, and there are regular tasting sessions. One of the best aspects of the shop is that their range of wines isn't restricted to pricey... Read moreLe Du's is a fantastic wine shop in New York's West Village. The staff are friendly and extremely knowledgeable, the selection of wines is huge, and there are regular tasting sessions. One of the best aspects of the shop is that their range of wines isn't restricted to pricey bottles, so you can find something delicious to suit any budget.    (hide)

  Store rating of by lonmarkc

  
  

• Aug 6

  Le Du's is a fantastic wine shop in New York's West Village. The staff are friendly and extremely knowledgeable, the selection of wines is huge, and there are regular tasting sessions. One of the best aspects of the shop is that their range of wines isn't restricted to pricey... Read moreLe Du's is a fantastic wine shop in New York's West Village. The staff are friendly and extremely knowledgeable, the selection of wines is huge, and there are regular tasting sessions. One of the best aspects of the shop is that their range of wines isn't restricted to pricey bottles, so you can find something delicious to suit any budget.    (hide)

  Store rating of by lonmarkc

  
  

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