Yesterday morning, we headed off early to the airport in Marseilles to pick up our children and their significant others. The day was beautiful – AGAIN – and the traffic was light, so the trip south was a quick hour. All flights were on time, so when Jessie & Chris arrived at 8:40, we collected their luggage and took a little driving tour of the Marseilles harbour and coastline.
When Aaron and Amber’s flight arrived, we collected them and headed back to Cairanne. Traffic continued to be light and we returned to a beautiful day in Cairanne. There was a Vide Grenier today here – town garage sale - in the main square, so Aaron, Amber, Dawn & I walked through the event and actually came away with a little treasure from Obernai.
Since it was Chris’ birthday today, we had a nice dinner of duck breast followed by a framboise torte – raspberry cake.
We cashed it in fairly early due to jet lag, but not before we had yet one more amazing sunset.
This morning, we set off shortly after 9:00 for a tour of the famous local wine towns. By 9:30, were in Rasteau, tasting our first wine of the day. We know Rasteau from Ontario as a regularly listed red wine, but the place that we tasted at, that actually produces the wine that comes to Ontario, also had some different – aka better - product.
We then drove along the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail and past Seguret, which we’ll check out on Wednesday, Sablet and on to Gigondas. These wines – Gigondas - never cease to amaze me, because they have the big character of wines from Chateauneuf du Pape and the smaller price of regular Cotes du Rhone.
We then drove through Vacqueras up to our favourite Beaumes de Venise vintner, Domaine de Coyeaux. For the newcomers, this drive up into the heart of the Dentelles, was awe inspiring.
From there we headed to Avignon and a luncheon date with la Moutardier, a delightful restaurant in the square of the hugely historical Palais de Papes. Everybody enjoyed their prix fixes of either cold tomato soup or tarte tatin aux legumes and supreme of chicken or sea bream fillets.
Following lunch, we did the walking tour of Avignon, which of course included a viewing of the Pont St. Benezet – “sur la pont d’Avignon on y danse on y danse”.
Then we headed back to Cairanne, via……. Chateauneuf du Pape. Well, it was on the way. We tasted at both the Tourism bar plus the Verger des Papes, below the chateau. We had amazing wines in both places – this IS Chateauneuf du Pape after all. Because it’s been so damn hot, we’ve really been seeking out the best whites and I have to tell you, this is a challenge in the Rhone where the vast majority of the product is red. So far, our favourite whites are from Dionysos in Uchaux- a Cotes du Rhone; Domaine Estevas in Cairanne; and Domaine la Gardine from Chateauneuf du Pape which is, quite honestly, totally out of my price point.
When we got back to the ranch, via a stop at Beaucastel, we had a snack, then the kids went out for a walkabout, which in this village is pretty delightful.
Dinner this evening was steak with a magnum of 2003 Gigondas, good company and great conversation. Another perfect day in paradise!
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