The Wine Merchant

On the main Boulevard which encircles the old part of town there are various businesses, cafes, restaurants and shops.

It was here we discovered “Le Domaine des vins “, a shop well stocked with some very wonderful tasting wines and a helpful, knowledgeable Monsieur.

On our first visit, we purchased a couple of bottles that M.Thierry- his first name (Terry in English) recommended; both from the Cahors region famously known for the Black wines.

We purchased a 2006 Chateau Pineraie L‘Authentique’ and also a 2009 from the same winery.  The Chateau is located in the village of Puy- L- Eveque, which is near our friends in Prayssac. We have not yet tasted these; we have reserved them for a special occasion.

Monsieur also presented us with an invitation to a “Degustation de Chablis” to be held at his shop on the 7^th of April.

On another visit, we purchased a pre-packaged trio of Cahors’ red wines for fewer than 20 Euros. One which we tasted and especially liked was Cahors Mercures Douelle

As a token of our appreciation; Graeme presented Thierry with one of the “Canadian Flag pins” that he brought with him courtesy of our local Federal MP.

Yesterday, we needed to buy some “Vin Blanc” and purchased a box of 5 liters of Bergerac Blanc Sec for 10.70 Euros that the friendly proprietor highly recommended.  Hopefully, this will carry us through for a few weeks?

We’ve been looking to buy a box/basket to store our books and odds and sods to keep everything in it’s’ place rather than just using every horizontal surface for storage.

We haven’t been able to find a basket/box anywhere in Gourdon, even the Monsieur at the Droguerie (hardware store) looked high and low to find us something suitable and was unable to find anything much to his dismay. He is a very congenial, helpful gentleman and we have made a few purchases here, one being a lovely Limoges bowl painted with poppies to hold our Sel de Mer.

Today, Saturday 10 March 2012, we visited the other Wine Store/ Merchant in town just to check it out. It is a larger operation or seems to be, it has a larger space, however it’s all very overwhelming at first.

At this store you can buy wine by the vrac (in bulk). (Think of the red plastic can that you use to purchase gas for your lawn mower)

It was here, we saw the empty wooden wine boxes which we thought would be the perfect solution to our storage and decorating dilemma.

So, we revisited our favorite wine merchant to see if we could purchase one of the empty wooden boxes used to store the bottles of wine.

We arrived as M.Thierry was having a “degustation “(tasting) of wine from the Chateau de Chambert – the wine in question is called Chambert Gourmand, Cahors AOC – Fruite Intense 2008.

We were asked and offered a glass to taste….this wine is 90% Malbec/10% Merlot. 

What we tasted we liked, so we bought a bottle for our “Cave” (the French would laugh at we call a Cave, but we can pretend)…at a not unreasonable price of 7.50 Euros.

There is a lot of history about this vineyard, created in 1690AD; it covers the best lands at the highest part of the Cahors region, in the South-West of France.

The following is taken from an info sheet that M.Thierry provided.

“For over 300 years, its’ wine is a delight to the Popes in Avignon, tsars in Russia, and officers in Bordeaux: it is exported all over Europe.”

“The vineyard of 145 acres of vines (90% Malbec, 10% Merlot) soil made from limestone, clay with red iron oxide producing wines of exceptional refinement. Viticultural techniques entirely based on natural products, no chemical weed-killer, Chambert really cares about the environment.”

“The wine – silky tannins, dark berries aromas with spices. Aged one year in oak barrels, (this wine can age 20 years or more if stored in a good cellar), this wine deserves exquisite meals|: red meat and spicy foods.

Open few hours before tasting to unleash all its complexity”

For more information:   http://www.chambert.com/

                                  

In addition, we purchased a bottle of “Terre Bleue” a 2010 white wine that received a Silver Medal – concours de Bordeaux 2011.

We left the store with our wine purchases and a gift from M. Thierry; a wonderful wooden box that already has found a useful place and is keeping order in our little cottage in Gourdon.

Sante ..to your good health.

Back to School and Trekking to the Supermarket

Today, I (Pat) went to school, in actual fact, a language school….L’Atelier des Langues on Rue Danglars, only a short walk from the cottage. (5 minutes walk around the

Church Square

and down probably one of the steepest streets/lanes – Rue Jean Jaures)

The following are the websites for the language schools - which are operated by Giles Murray

http://www.atelierdeslangues.com/

http://www.frenchresidential.com/

This is an introductory course offered on Wednesday mornings – a 1.5 hour class per week of French for beginners and very rusty students and I believe I fall in the latter category.

Today, there were only three students, myself and a lovely Dutch couple who are fluent in English.

I studied French in Canada throughout High School Grades 9 -13 and my mother who was born in Belgium was more Walloon (French-speaking) than Flemish; she was  one of five girls and she spoke French quite regularly at home when her other two immigrated sisters, Anny and Georgette visited or on the telephone … when I was growing up. The French language was never foreign when I was a young girl.

But like many things if you don’t use it, you lose it.

Every time, we travel to France it takes time for me to feel comfortable using the French language. I want to feel confident when I am conversing with the locals and also avoid any mistakes due to the language barrier or misinterpretation of the written word.

It hasn’t happened for me yet on this trip, but in 2005 while in Agde at a restaurant in the square with some dear friends, Doug & Shari…I ordered “les petites Poisson frites”, which I literally interpreted as “small fish fry” i.e. A small order of fried fish which sounded delicious and I didn’t want a large portion…that was not the case…the waitress delivered our orders and my eyes couldn’t believe what I had ordered. It was a large platter piled high with over a 100 small fish (whole), the size of minnows/ sardines deep fried with their little eyes staring at me. We enjoyed a good laugh at my mistranslation.

So, I’m hoping my teacher can help me remember the words and how to use and pronounce them correctly in the right context.

My first class was very informative and I came away with homework; so it is really like school …does this make sense at my age?

In addition to being able to converse while in France; I hope to be able to have conversations with my oldest grandchild, Chloe (7) soon to be (8) who is in French Immersion at her school.

Just before we left Canada, we had a visit with the girls; Chloe and Sydney… Chloe spoke in French so innocently without apprehension and she sounded so francais. Oh, to be young again!!

I was at school from 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon today …arrived home to the aroma of homemade chicken soup for lunch…my honey was busy this morning.

After lunch, we ventured out to the larger Supermarket –Inter Marché on the Route de Fumel on foot; which we estimate to be about 3 ½ km there and back, plus the extra steps in the store and our mantra was we will only buy light things …do you believe that?  

You may ask,”Why did we go there?” flyer specials of course …one of the offers this week; Sandeman Ruby Porto at 5.70 Euros (what a deal!).

We walked every aisle in the store to orientate ourselves, and tried to only purchase light weight items because we knew we had to carry them back to Rue Marsis.Before heading back home, we had a most delicious Café Crème at the café.

Then, we trudged back home with some complaint because of the weight of the shopping bags and distance.

Finally, at home we prepared a delicious dinner of Toulouse sausage, roasted potatoes, and white beans in tomato sauce.

I completed my assigned homework…and am now enjoying a glass of wine…Chateau Pineraie (Cuvee des Dames Maison fondee en 1836) 2009 Cahors, Puy-L-Eveque).

We were going to head to the Promenade Café (our Wi-Fi connection to the world) to post our entries and check emails…but it will wait until tomorrow! 

Have a good evening everyone!

Busy Tuesday in Gourdon

Tuesday, 06 March 2012

On the first Tuesday of every month between 10h00 to 11h00, there is a free English book exchange held at the L’Atelier des Langues. 

We were warmly welcomed by the owners, who also happen to be our landlords and offered a cup of coffee.

We had a good root through a large selection of books displayed by type; fiction, non-fiction, history, etc. not unlike a library.

I was fortunate enough to find a novel by Anita Shreve (author of the Pilot’s Wife) that I had not yet read titled “Strange Fits of Passion“ a perfect vacation book. I hope to read this laying out in the garden in the dappled sunlight before the month is over.

As Graeme is an avid reader, it is sometimes difficult for him to find anything he hasn’t read. But today, he did find one by Ian Rankin that had not been crossed off his list.

We also picked up a triple DVD collection called Conspiracy Theories which purports to uncover some of history’s most intriguing mysteries about JFK, Marilyn Monroe and Princess Di which we hope will provide us with some entertainment on a rainy day or cool evening.

Then we headed to the Foire - an Outdoor Market with merchants selling their wares and dry goods.

This market is held the first and third Tuesday of each month.

Here, we purchased a brightly colored blue, red, yellow and green plaid blanket which will be excellent for afternoon naps and for sunny picnics later.

We trudged down the hill to one of the supermarkets for a quick pickup and then up the hills home for lunch.

Below are a couple of photos of the view from the bottom of the hill as we are walking up to our little cottage.

We are looking up to where the Castle once stood and the Table d’ Orientation (where we walked up the 100 plus steps yesterday).

Sun is shining brightly but the air is cooler today!

Honey’s Blankie” is getting the thumbs up! Do you think he will share it?

This evening for supper, Honey is cooking fresh pasta that we purchased from “Les Pastas Marco” at the Saturday Market.

He is making fettuccine with ham and peas in his homemade Alfredo sauce served with a frise salad with avocado, tomato, radish…it should be delicious! 

Here he is enjoying the wine and the gloaming, looking out the dining room window from the cottage…(this is for you Ted & Luann)

In between his cooking, he is enjoying a glass of Chateau Alvina- Cahors Red Wine 2009 - Mis en bouteille au chateau- made and bottled at the chateau….

Les Landes Hautes”- “M. Mme. Lacombe & Fille” Niaudon 46220 Prayssac strong blackberry and cassis flavors, which he is quite enjoying.

M. Bruce’s palette rates this wine at 7 out of 10.

It was a busy Tuesday in Gourdon.

Bon Nuit!