Wine Tasting

We are in the heart of the Chablis region and this has caused me to think a little bit about wine producers and wines.  I have established that Chablis is made with Chardonnay Grapes and the stoney soil round here makes a crisp mineral wine as opposed to the oaky fruitier Chardonnays grown elsewhere in the world. In the Chabis region only white Chardonnay grapes are grown. Nearby Irancy, East of Auxerre is known for reds, and reds are also found to the South of the Cote d'Or, but here Chablis reigns.

Since we have been cruising in Burgundy we have tried quite a few wines ranging in price from 5 euros to 25 euros bought from shops, but so far price has not been any assurance of a wine we like, and it is impossible to know what to choose.

So I realise I've got to get out there and taste some! But there is another problem.  The roads are littered with signs for 'Degustations'.  A funny word as it sounds a but like 'Disgusting' which is the opposite of what a wine tasting is supposed to be!  So where to start, which one to choose? We had to take the plunge somewhere so we started at Chassignelles near Ancy le France (chateau) Domaine de L'Erable.

Due to advances by another suitor after the wine tasting, Julian picked up the nearest sword to defend my honour, it was all I could do to stop him running the other man through.

Having emailed in advance, we turned up in the farmyard by the 'Desgustation Ouvert' sign and loitered about a bit before a youngish lady (farmers wife) came out and unlocked their 'cave'.  This was not an actual cellar, but a modernish farm building that had been converted into a pleasant room displaying wines local honey and truffles, with the obligatory oak barrel on which were a number of glasses, and a list of the wines produced and the prices.

We started off with 'petit Chablis' at 8 euros.  Quite nice, very drinkable.  Then on to a 'Chablis Vielles Vignes' at 13 euros, yes, we liked that one too, and finally a Premier Cru 2010 that was from a neighbouring vineyard. It did not live up to our expectations of a Premier Cru, nothing like as fresh as the others - dare I say a bit watery and musty!  I then asked the lady which was her favourite and she mentioned one of the wines at 9 euros, that we had not chosen to try.  We duly tasted this other wine and I also thought it was the best. We went off happily with 8 bottles 4 each of the two wines we liked the most. Note to self,
'remember to always ask which one the wine producer likes to drink themselves'.

All calm again now back on the boat.  A hotel barge arrived while we were out, plus a Linsen boat, so there is probably no problem with the water levels after all.

Not about France at all

We had something so momentous happen in May, and I can't believe I resisted the temptation to mention it before.  Daughter Sian, and Jolyon Sandercock of Tintagel in Cornwall got married at Bovey Castle Hotel near us in Moretonhampstead! So this is an extra-ordinary little post to mark the ocassion. We had a wonderful day with our family and met Jolyon's family all of whom were delightful.

Rachel, Ben and me

Sister Tracy, daughter Rachel and my mum

Julian!

Sian - just one of her wonderful qualities is her ability to laugh. 

Me and the delightful Charlotte - daughter of Jolyon.

Mum and Simon

Oscar Gould

Bride and Groom

Charlotte and Sian

Tracy - she would make a good Bodecia leading the ancient Brittons to battle.

High Summer in Burgundy - water levels are low but it's a lovely place to be stranded!

Virgule Salon de Tea at the gates of the Chateau in Tanlay

Here we are back in Tanlay.  It looks overcast in the photo, but its very warm and there has been a drought, so we're not able to cruise easily on the canal with water levels so low. We had a bit of that last time we were here and it's no fun moving through pea soup!  We keep getting conflicting updates, and visits from VNF staff but of course no one knows what is going to happen, that depends on whether it rains a lot in the new few weeks.

Blinds in wheelhouse at last!

I have spent ages thinking of a design for blinds in the wheelhouse that look good, and that can be taken down/away easily in the cooler months.  This is the result. I made them with left over material and some scraps of old William Morris linen (previously covering a chair) that Martin, upholsterer in Chagford, gave me after a rummage in his fabric left over boxes.

Blinds down - oh dear there is someone else in the photo of my lovely blinds!