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Hello, friends. My husband Den Akihiko Okochi (O'Coach) visited vineyards in France in August. This is his journal. I could not go because of the business and my old mother. He went with his three old friends. Can you guess how many bottles of wine they drank in this journey? Well, please enjoy.
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Left Karatsu at 7:00am. and arrived at the Aeroport Charles de Gaulle at 7:30pm (Japan time 2:30am next day). Rain outside. A little chilly. I have heard that in Europe the weather was also abnormal and that it would get cold sooner than usual. So I was prepared for the coldness. Our accommodation today is in Chantilly. 40 minutes' drive from the airport. We arrived at Chateau de Monvillargenne. Soon after check-in, I jumped in the bed even without unpacking. August 23, 2007 Breakfast at 6:30am.
Chantilly is a town famous for training race horses. Today, there is a horse-show called ' The Spectacle'. In the morning we went to Auvers-sur Oise. This is the tomb where Van Gogh sleeps next to his brother Theo. Saw the rye field and the church Gogh painted, and then went to Ravoux Inn. Saw the loft where Gogh passed away. Then we had a lunch at the restaurant which was designated as a Historical Architecture, being renovated completely. Our lunch was: Pressee de Laperean sur Lit de Salade de Lentilles de Pub, and Beanquette de vean a l'ancienne. Wine, Cotes de Bourg 2004. Went back to Chantilly and entered Le Chateau de Chantilly. 4:30pm The Spectacle of Musec du Cheval was full with families. Dinner at An Soleil de Moroc. We tried Kuskusu and Morocco wine.
Checked out at 8:00am. Left Chantilly for Reims, 150km east. Saw the Cathedrale Notre Dame and Capelle Foujita. Had lunch at a small village before Epernay. Arrived at Moet et Chandon Company. Beside the entrance there is a statue of the monk Dom Perignon. At 2:30pm we were guided by a Japanese guide. Learned about Champagne, being a mixture of the three species of the grape, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier with some liqueur. To complete a bottle it takes so much time and labor. Degustation of Grand Vintage 2000, white and rose. We crossed a bridge over the Marne, and went up the hill to the vineyard. The town of Epernay was below our eyes, and looking at the green hillside and the blue sky we were quite excited with the anticipation of the vineyard tour. Via Troyes went into Bourgogne. 200km South from Epernay, and arrived at the Chablis vineyard. We stopped our car in front of the Les Cros field of Grand Cru. Arrived at Auxerre at 8:00pm. The bridges over the river Yonne, and the buildings alongside the river are lighted up. and the boats filled the shore. Checked in at Hotel Maxim. Dinner at La Ptete Beursauded. Ate the famous Bourgogne stakes. Wine, Irancy red. August 25, 2007
At 10:00am went to the town of Chablis. We do not see old buildings here, and that somewhat dissatisfied me. Many places were closed because it was Saturday. Went into the Domain Camus. We tried Chablis Grand Cru here. 12:00 arrived at Vezelay. The road up to a World Heritage, Basilique Ste. Madeleine Bourgogne was too crowded with sightseeing guests,
2:00pm Visited Abbay de Fontenay which was built in the 12th century. This is also a World heritage. This abbey stands so quietly in a forest, and the sightseeing people are not too many. I felt a solemn feeling again just like I did 5 years ago here. 3:00pm We entered an village, named Flavigny sur Oserain, where we found a sign-board to tell that this is one of "The beautiful village of France" (L'un des plue beaux villages de France). We had apple pie and coffee at a cafe run by the village folk. 141 villages in all France are designated as the Beautiful Village of France. One of the conditions is that the population should be less than 200. This village is famous because the movie 'Chocolat' was filmed here. 5:00pm At the river side I took pictures of the old streets of Semur en Auxois. 7:00pm Arrived at Chateauneuf en Auxois. Stayed at Hostellerie de Chateau. This chateau is on a hill in a flat field, and from the castle both sunset and sunrise can be seen on the horizon. Before dinner, we saw a beautiful sunset. Dinner at L'Auberge du Marronnier. It was nice to see Mr. Gay, the owner, again. We enjoyed escargot and sausage terrine. Wine, Corton-Charlemagne 99 and Echezeaux99. August 26, 2007
Through the village Gevrey-Champbertin, we went to Dijon, and visited the Musee des Beaux -Arts of the Palais des Ducs et des Etats de Bourgogne. 7:40pm Went back to Beaune and checked in the Tulip Inn. We
August 27, 2007
6:30pm Checked in the Hotel de la Post in Chagny. We dined together with Mr. and Mrs. Montagny at Lameloise. The course dish was fabulous, and I was amazed with so many kinds of desserts. Wine: Coups de Champagne, St. Aubin les Chamois 2002 white, Vosne-Romanee les Bossieres 1996 red. While we were dining, Mr. Jaques Lamloise came to our table. August 28, 2007
7:28am Left Chagny by train to Lyon Part Dieu. Caught taxi to Vieux Lyon, and rode the cable-car up to Fourviere to see the town view of Lyon. Left there and went to Marseille St. Charles station. Our hotel was the New Hotel of Marseille in Vieux Port. This hotel was built two years ago. Across the street there was a park, Parc du Pharo. We could see Vieux Port, Fort St. Jean, and the Mediterranean Sea. It was quite a fun to watch so many sail-boats come back from the sea. 8 years ago I ate Bouillabaisse at Michel and wanted to go there again, but we could not reserve seats. So we ate at a restaurant alongside the road with the harbor view. August 29, 2007 Took train for Montpelier, and wandered about the streets for two or three hours.
August 30, 2007
9:11am Left Carcassonne. The railway was under repair, and our train was much delayed, and arrived at Bordeaux at 2:00pm. We rent a car at Avis and drove to Sauternes. We saw Chateau la Tour-Blanche. Then to St. Emilion. In the way we lost our way and entered into a village Pellegrue. We were happy because we thought we were in a town famous for its Foies gras, but it was a mistake. Perigueux was the famous town. This one was famous because the bird cranes stop by in their flight. 6:30pm arrived at St Emilion. Hotel: Au Logis Des Remparts. Stone-paved, curly narrow streets, and the stone-made hotel. Interior was very modern, back yard was so wide and even a swimming pool was there. This hotel became the most favorite of the ones we stayed at during this journey. We dined at L'envers du decor at 8:30pm. August 31, 2007
9:00am We went to Maison du vin de St.Emilion. The clerk there recommended us St.Emilion Grand Cru Chateau Corbin 1999 and 2002. They don't send to Japan, so we decided to bring them back. 10:00am Left for Medoc. In August, Chateaus like Margaux were not open. Only the Mouton-Rothschild Company accepted our visit at 2:30pm. Until the time we went to see the outside of the Chateaus. First, Chateau Siran, where the Lautrec family lived, Chateau Margaux, and Chateau Maucaillou. In comparison with Bourgogne, we could say that in Medoc, the yards were wide and flat. We
September 1, 2007 Had a walk around downtown of Bordeaux city. In the afternoon took TSV to Paris, and checked in Castille Hotel. At the bar here, reasonable price wines are enjoyed easily. Dined at a nearby bistrot. This was the last day in France. We went round many wine villages, and tried many wines. How enjoyable was this journey! From now on, each time I screw off the cork, the bottle would remind me of the memories of this journey. |
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Thanks to Mr. Akira Yamada in Beaune who made this travel possible. Thanks to Mr. and Mrs, Montagny who made this travel unforgettable. So, Cheers, in Bourgogne style,  |
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