Will has just got back from his trip to France. He spent 2 days at VINEXPO, the major annual wine trade fair in Bordeaux. This was a convenient opportunity to meet up with some of our existing winemakers:
Gilles Ferran from Domaine des Escaravailles in the Rhone, Pierre Jacolin from his domaine near Menetou-Salon and also Jean-Louis Trocard from Bordeaux to name a few. Jean-Louis put on a fantastic boat trip with dinner on board for fifty guests. A three hour trip which coincided with an electrical storm over the city. Jean-Louis had just lost about 30% of his vine crop in one of his vineyards from a storm a few days before, so while Will was enjoying the hospitality, J-L was looking a bit anxious. He did tell us that the reason why his son, Benoit, was looking rather pleased, however, was that his (Benoit's) property, Clos Dubreuil, had just been named in the top 3 domains in a St. Emilion tasting at VINEXPO.
While in Bordeaux, Will carried out a rare task given to him by one of our customers. The lady had a 1948 bottle of the top estate Chateau Yquem which was starting to leak. She wanted us to sell it but we advised her to get the problematic cork seen to first. Will duly turned up at the famous property where, after they had grandly declared it to be authentic, it was recorked.
Leaving Bordeaux and travelling south, Will next visited Clos Thou at Jurancon (near Pau), home of our fabulous moelleux, then Domaine de Bordes and finally Chateau Millet, our Armagnac producer. Here he was treated to a great evening which went on well into the night. Early next morning, he was forced to rise as he had to move his car to allow the mobile bottling articulated lorry to get in.
A good trip - a few new wines chosen and friendships re-kindled.
Cheers!
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