Last night was one I will remember the rest of my life.  We had an amazing experience with a wonderful French couple that I cound't have scripted if I had wanted to.

The day began early and with the time change to French daylight savings time we didn't get much sleep.  Everything was also closed because it was Sunday and we spent much of the day driving around and discovering the Cotes de Blaye and Cotes du Bourg.  We met up with Dave and Judy Cottrill (Canadian wine club member) in St. Emilion and had a lovely lunch with them before returning to the wine shop we discovered the night before.  I purchased 6 bottles of each of the wines I had tasted the night before and we have found a way to order some more of this if any of you want it.  More on that later.

From St. Emilion we drove out to Margaux to meet up with Sebastian at Cave L'Avant Garde.  Sebastian is really great and has been very helpful in putting the details of this trip together.  He opened the wine shop for us and we hung out there for about two hours talking about the different wines we could offer the club and reviewing the futures orders.  Eventually we went to Marie and Phillipe's house where Sebastian had arranged for us to spend the night.  We had collected seven wines to taste including three from the wine shop.  Marie was glad to be our hostess and and because it was late and we had not had dinner, she offered to make us dinner.  Bill, Dave and I were joined by Sebastian and his girlfriend for a six hour wine tasting and gormet feast.

Marie threw together an amazing meal that began with fresh asparagus and a vinegaretter sauce, followed by oysters on the half shell and pate (from a pig that had been fed cognac) that was nothing short of amazing.  The main course was duck confit which is my favorite and was perfect.  After the main course we had cheese (of course) followed by fruit for desert and ending the evening with a twenty year old port.  Marie and Phillipe didn't speak a word of English but with Sebastian interpreting we had a great time getting to know them.

The wines were equally amazing.  In addition to the seven we were tasting for the club Phillipe brouught a surprise bottle which turned out to be an '03 Lynch Bages.  He didn't tell us what it was and we all guessed it to be a '90 from somewhere in Pauillac.  At least we got the Pauillac part right.  I am continually amazed at the generosity and kindness of the French people I meet.  Who opens an '03 Lynch for strangers?  Not in North America.  He also told us that he loves Americans because without us he would be speaking German.

Of the seven wines we tasted only one from the other parts of France made our final cut.  It was from Cahors and held it's own against the Bordeaux.  I regret to tell you that we will not be including a Chateauneuf du Pape or a Gigondas; they simple did not match the Bordeaux ( I know you are not surprised that I would think that and I accept it).  Sebastian had brought two wines that we hope to include but they are in very small production and there is extreemly limited supply.  I will be talking to him next week to see if he is able to get these for us.  So we have one wine for the club - maybe two.

Until tomorrow.

Sante