Tag: wine
What happens in Pfalz stays in Pfalz
Nuns! Fucking nuns!… Lotta, channeling father Jack
I have a feeling I’ll regret parts of this night tomorrow… me, at various points in the night
You don’t piss on somebody else’s jacket… Mindi
Puff puff give! Those are the rules!… Matt
You’re a dirty old man, but you’re not that old so it’s ok… Doris
Is that a wine bottle in your pocket or are you happy to see me… Lotta
The drops of god
Japanese wine cartoon makes Bordeaux grower famous
SAINT-CIBARD, France – Chateau owner Jean-Pierre Amoreau is a celebrity in Japan — a privilege he owes to a wine-obsessed cartoon he had never heard of until diehard fans started calling him at home.
Amoreau, owner of the Puy Chateau near the village of Saint-Cibard in southwestern France, said he did not know what to think last year when he started getting calls from Japanese buyers who wanted to buy his 2003 growth bottles at any cost. His agent explained the reason for the calls: a television show broadcast in Japan. Named “The Drops of God,” it is a cartoon about wine that has won a passionate following in Japan and has the peculiar trait of referring mainly to real bottles.
It tells the story of a famous oenologist who, upon his death, bequeaths a vast wine cellar to one of his two sons on the condition he can solve 12 riddles about 12 bottles. After completing the challenge, the heir has to track down a 13th bottle — the ultimate, perfect bottle of wine — known as the “Drops of God.”
“For the last episode … millions of Japanese people were in front of their TVs about to find out the name of the chateau which Tadashi Agi thought produced the best wine of thousands he had tasted the world over,” Amoreau said. The cartoon gave birth to a comic book that boosted the success of his wine with Japanese consumers. “Today we are the best-known wine-makers in Japan,” he added.
The owner of the 17th century estate is the 14th generation of wine-makers in his family, as well as being a firm believer in chemical-free agriculture in the tradition of his ancestors who banned chemicals in the 1930s.
Despite the frenzy surrounding the 2003 bottle named in “The Drops of God,” Amoreau kept the 18 euro ($24) price tag even when bottles were selling in Japan for 1,000 euros. “We stopped selling the 2003 until the excitement had died down to avoid penalizing our regular customers,” he said.
Thanks to the cartoon, Chateau Le Puy gained access to lucrative Asian markets in China as well as Taiwan and South Korea. About 80 percent of the 120,000 bottles produced at Saint-Cibard are destined for export. Among the other Bordeaux vineyards to have benefited from a cameo appearance in the cartoon are Chateau Calon-Segur, Saint Estephe, Chateau Palmer, Margaux and Chateau Poupille. Philippe Carille, owner of the Poupille vineyard, is still enjoying the windfall, three years after his wine was mentioned in the fourth volume of the series.
We have a herb garden. Yes, we do!
We went to Southwold this weekend for a day trip to the seaside. It was a lovely day.
It started in Saffron Walden, where we went to pick up some food and a parcel from the post office. Katy got nibbled on by a duck, which we took to be a good omen for the day to come.
The weather was lovely, and the tourist route we were on to to take us to the seaside was a perfect windy, meandering road (if a bit narrow – we almost had the side of the car taken off by a very wide tractor going rather fast. So wide we were actually relieved that the vehicle behind it was a LGV…) We stopped at a little teapot pottery along the way but didn't buy anything.
Southwold is really, really lovely. It's what I expected a seaside town to be like (not the crass and tacky version I'd seen in Yarmouth). We walked along the beach and stopped here and there to collect nice looking pebbles. I officially love the sound of the ocean. It was sooo relaxing, especially since the beach was mostly empty (except for a few lads drinking beer and people walking their dogs). One thing that shocked me though, which I've only found out today. Those dinky little seaside shacks that have no utilities and look a bit tacky and decrepit sell for about 20K – and you don't own the land they're on – you still need to apply for a license from the council.
Southwold is home to the Adnams brewery. We wanted to go have a visit but apparently they stopped doing those years ago. We did walk next to one of the fermenting room buildings and the smell of the hops coming out of the ventination ducts was beautiful :) We had a quick pint at a local pub then went shopping at the Adnams wine and kitchen shop. I could have spent waaaay too much money, but we were reasonable and only spent about £20. I did succomb to temptation though and bought stout beer-cured bacon. I mean, beer and bacon. Hmmm, bacon. It's nature's perfect food.
We walked around the high street for a bit and then headed home. On the way back, we stopped at Shawsgate Vineyard in Framlingham. The wines are not bad at all, but in our heart of hearts, it doesn't compare to Chillford (but then again, nothing probably will). Their Baccus dry white is nice (we had it with a baked camembert last night for dinner – LOVELY!) and their medium-sweet Harlequin will make a nice dessert wine.
Sunday was a bit of a weird day. I'd planned to go to the Cambridge Gliding Center open day as they'd announced cheap trial flights. Unfortunately, my headache came back with a vengeance and submitting myself to G-forces would not have been the best thing to do. Instead, we went to Tesco for a shop and then went to the garden center to pick up some herbs for our new herb garden. I planted most of those. I did! Yes, me! Those of you who know me well know that I'm not the most outdoors-y type, but Katy and I spent a good hour outside with our hards dirty. We now have two types of sage, two types of oregano, coriander, chives and lemon thyme. They smell really, really nice :)
Finally, I leave you with more pictures;
Tolstoy: http://www.flubu.com/various_pics/tolstoy/30_04_2007/
Southwold: http://www.flubu.com/various_pics/southwold_apr_2007/
Wine suggestion guide
| Red | White | Ros | Sparkling | |
| Appetizers | Chenin Blanc Riesling Sauvignon Blanc |
White Grenache White Zinfandel |
Brut Extra Dry Spumante Champagne |
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| BBQ & Marinated Poultry | Zinfandel Petit Sirah Beaujolais |
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| Beef | Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Zinfandel |
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| Caviar | Pinot Blanc | Brut Extra Dry Spumante Champagne |
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| Cheese (Mild) | Chenin Blanc GewBlanc S |
White Grenache White Zinfandel |
Brut Extra Dry Spumante Champagne |
|
| Cheese (Strong) | Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Pinot Noir Zinfandel |
Chardonnay | Brut Extra Dry Champagne |
|
| Desserts | Gew | White Zinfandel | Spumante | |
| Game Birds/Veal | Beaujolais Merlot Zinfandel |
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| Ham | Beaujolais Zinfandel Pinot Noir |
GewChenin Blanc | White Zinfandel | |
| Lamb | Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Pinot Noir Zinfandel |
White Zinfandel | ||
| Pasta | Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Zinfandel |
Sauvignon Blanc Chablis Pinot Grigio Riesling |
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| Pork | Pinot Noir Zinfandel |
Chardonnay Gew | White Grenache | |
| Poultry | Pinot Noir Burgundy |
Chardonnay Chenin Blanc Riesling Sauvignon Blanc |
White Zinfandel | |
| Seafood (Heavy) | Merlot Pinot Noir Burgundy |
Chardonnay S |
White Grenache White Zinfandel |
|
| Seafood (Light) | Chardonnay GewBlanc |
White Grenache White Zinfandel |
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| Shellfish | Chardonnay Chenin Blanc Riesling Sauvignon Blanc S Chablis |
Extra Dry | ||
| Smoked, Marinated or BBQ Beef | Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Zinfandel |
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| Tomato & Highly Seasoned Sauces | Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Zinfandel |