Freckles

How about Les Enfants Rouges?

And what do you think of the Guide Hachette, please? Everyone uses it here in France like a Bible, but I don't love it. For starters, most wines starred in the 2005 edition are long-sold out by April. And it seems as though some great producers aren't even mentioned in it. Eg. when I went to Vouvray, I saw that Champalou was listed but Huet was not included in the book. So, what gives?

Dang. I don't think I'll have been out of the country for a full 5 years. More like 3.5. Also, I wonder how many bottles I can bring in. Surely they wouldn't let me bring more than 1,000....

And I just made a reservation yesterday. They asked that I called to confirm the day of, which seems reasonable seeing that our dinner is more than 3 weeks away...

Living in France, I'm building up a nice wine cellar. When the time comes for me to move back to Canada, how can I bring back my bottles? I mean, not physically, I know that part won't be so hard. But, how much money in taxes, duties, etc. do I have to pay to bring my wine into Ontario. Does anyone know the answer to this, please? Thanks

Thanks so much. These are great suggestions. please don't yell at me for the following question, which might be naive but meant in the spirit of all things Egullet. Do you think that the wine atlas is already outdated? I mean, it was published about 5 years ago and everyone keeps telling me that the last 10 years in wine have been more different than the last 100... so...? What's this wine Newbie to believe?

Hah. Thanks for the heads-up. I might try to go early, then, and check out the grocery store before hand.

Well, according to a well-respected Canadian food writer -- whose name shall be left out in case some people decide to lynch -- there are no good Canadian food magazines because those that started could never compete with American quality. She points out that Australia -- a small country -- is able to support dozens of fine publications because they are in a different climate/seasonal system than any big competitors. In Canada, there are just too many excellent American magazines right next door, and who wants to pay the same price for second-rate product? President's Choice used to publish an excellent magazine, but it was a real money-loser for Loblaws. They did it to support their brand and for the prestige of being the one and only good food magazine, but at some point, if the Canucks won't even buy enough to help you break even, why bother? It's not as though PC needed the help... Canadians complain about not having enough Canadian Content, but at the end of the day, everyone wants good value for the money.

What are the prices like, please????

Dang, that's fantastic! Not sure I'm going to be around that long -- or have so much will power to keep it in the cellar for such an impressive amount of time -- but I hope that I'll enjoy it in 4 or 5 years.

As it turns out, only 4 or -- at most -- 5 of us will be able to come. So, I made a reservation for La Ceraisier (or however you spell it). Will let you know what we think of it! Thanks for the input. -- Freckles

Just visited Huet and Champalou on Monday. Their 2002 moelleux wines are spectacular. Keep them for a few more years, then pull them out and enjoy with a chunk of Stilton. mmmmmm.

Hi, everyone. Living in Paris for a few years, I cannot help but find myself immersed in and mesmerized by all things wine. I wondered: what are your favourite wine books? Whether for general information, personal memoirs related to wine, books dealing with specific topics... whatever? And are there any websites you particularly enjoy when it comes to wine? Well, EGULLET! That goes without saying. But, any other places you find particularly fun, inspiring or informative? Thanks! - Freckles

Ludja: in certain regions like Bordeaux you should make an appointment. Big name vinyards in Burgundy, too. For the places in the Loire, you seem pretty safe if you go during the hours they're open -- many shut from 12-2 or 1-3 from that sacred and un-disturbable french ritual: lunch. So, we tend to call the day of, ask if they are open, ask if they have any of a certain cuvee left (if we're looking for one thing in particular). Once we're there, they let us taste almost any wines they have open. Of course, if you ask to sample the $200 bottle first, they will probably flinch; you are expected to start with some of the cheaper labels before diving into the big stuff. In fact, since I don't usually intend to buy the really expensive things, I don't think it's right to ask to try. Luckily, if you've struck up a nice report with the producteur at this point, he/she will probably insist that you sample some of his priciest wares. So, it's quite convivial and pleasant.

THANKS. That is a huge huge help. As you can see, I'm not exactly an expert at this wine stuff. I'm trying to learn, but it is taking its sweet time. I really appreciate you pitching in and I will drink this sucker ASAP. -- Freckles.

Don't think I'm going to pop out these corks in quite a while. I've been told that these sweet and semi-sweet Vouvrays last forever, only getting more interesting with every year. So, I'll let you know in 2011 ;)

Hello. I'm organizing a girls' dinner -- 7 of us -- in May. We don't do restaurants that are too formal or expensive; we're not out to sample Michelin Stars. In the past, we've enjoyed restaurants like La Table des Oliviers (in the 17th), which I thought was good value for the money. Now, it's my turn to organize a dinner in the 14th. Where do you like to dine in that Arrondissement? Any suggestions very welcome. Thanks.

By the way. This year (2005) I took some wonderful enology classes through the Mairie of Paris/ ADAC. Sadly, these highly successful/popular courses are to be discontinued since the city has decided that ADAC should only be for arts classes, like Sculpture and Bookbinding.

I did enjoy them both. Thanks for the heads-up on the aging; as I said, I'm really new to this wine stuff and can use -- and appreciate! -- all the help I can get.

Okay. As you know, I got a group of about 12 together to go to a wine bar in the 1st in March. Tonight, I'm heading with 9 friends to Au Sans Souci in the 2nd. Now, I need to find somewhere to go in May in the 3rd Arrondisement. I think we'll be about 8 people -- I'd like somewhere that we can get some simple food and have a wide selection of wines by the glass. Atmosphere is more important than number of wines! Please just throw all your suggestions my way. And I'll let you know in May where I end up going, and what it's like. Thanks -- Freckles

Ended up visiting Domaine Huet and Champalou. Picked up 6 bottles at each. Thanks for your help!

Excellent. Thank you. I will keep following this thread. I find the way that wine is sold in Ontario both confusing and antiquated, but perhaps with your help I will be able to navigate the LCBO's troubled waters.

Okay. I visited Champalou and Domaine Huet yesterday. Both great. Disclaimer for all that follows: I am not a very sophisticated wine drinker -- more of a neophyte, really -- and just know what I like and dislike, rather than what makes a great wine. Champalou is a bit of a construction site at the moment; they are expanding their cave. I first tried their "Brut" which received 2* in the Guide Hachette. and I hated hated hate it. Could be a great wine, but not to my taste at all. The smell was too minerally for me and my French boyfriend said, "It tastes like ze wee wee." (No joke) We then tried their sec, delicious! Their demi sec and their moelleux. I bought 1 bottle of the moelleux 2003 (16 Euros) because it was so crazily sweet and delicious because of the heat wave that year: really unusual. But I much prefered the 2002, which was more subltle and "typique" of a good, normal sweet vouvray (14 Euros/bottle) At Huet I again preferred the 2002s -- bought 2 bottles of the 2002 le Mont demi-sec (13 Euros each) and 2 bottles of the 2002 clos du bourg moelleux (18 Euros each). Better quality than the Champalou but of course more costly, too. Just for interest's sake, I also bought 1 bottle of the le Mont 2001 demi-sec (15Euros) and 1 bottle of the 2003 Clos du Bourg moelleux (21 Euros) which was almost like drinking syrup! So, as you can see by my buying patterns, I loved the 2002 and didn't think it was too old yet. The sugar in the Moelleux keeps them for a long time and they become less sweet grape juice and more interesting with time. Can't wait to down them with some stilton in a few years! Hope this helps. -- Freckles

Hello! I was given a bottle of 2000 Chateau Chevrol Bel Air, a Pomerol. Wondering if I should drink it now or if it will improve with a few years in my cellar? Thanks! -- Freckles

Just wrote a long response but see you are staying in the 11th so my comments are unnecessary. Enjoy your stay! - Freckles