Gigondas

The day didn't start off with a trip to Gigondas, irrefutably one of the stars in southern Rhone wines, but it incidentally became the highlight.
We had some inconsequential shopping to do in Vaison la Romaine, but we knew there was a special vendage activity happening in Rasteau. This village has only recently been propelled into the international limelight, due to its ascent to Cru status. No longer will it be Cotes-du-Rhone-Villages. Now, just Rasteau, like Gigondas and Vacqueras before it! It's funny that when we were describing where we were staying to Mme. Valenti in Roussillon yesterday, that she really only understood the area when the name Rasteau came up. "Oh, they make really good wine there", she said.
Anyway, whatever was happening in Rasteau, it was pretty low key, because we went to the Cave Cooperative and it was like every other day. This is a good co-op and I know Margaret likes it but I find its offerings limited.

At that point it was off to Gigondas, where we had not actually ever visited the Cooperative. We had a very helpful gentleman serving us wine and ended up walking away with another case of fabulous wine, including award winning 2007 and 2009 Crus.
Although it might be considered a step down, we thought we'd visit the cave in Sablet, which is La Gravillas, a totally familiar name in Ontario, but alas we arrived over the lunch hour and all was ferme.

So it was back to Cairanne for the afternoon. Cedric the gardener did his hour of work, but after Dawn's labours, there wasn't much left to do.
Now that we're counting down, obscene as it may seem, we've made a list of restaurants we must visit before departing the country. Tonight's choice was a short walk down the hill to La Tourne au Verre.
Dinner tonight was zucchini stuffed with a smoked salmon cream sauce for Dawn and a duck with sesame and avacado for me. Main course was cod with risotto epautre with a varigoule sauce for Dawn and I had stuffed rabbit with mushroom sauce. Dessert for both of us was a delicious pear tartelette. Tonight we ate in the bar with a Domaine Delubac Authentique red wine, which was yet another first for us.

Wait 'till you see tomorrow's choice!