Thurs 13/08/09
Catch train to Cosne-sur-Loire (on the actual river Loire itself) and go to this fucking mansion with servants and all sorts – a lake, a swimming pool, a tennis court, 3 stories, stone carved stairs, the works. Loveliest people, owned by the family of one of Lea's friends, Domitille.
I am the celebrity because A – I'm Australian
B – I speak shit (or “cute” to their mind) French and
C – I like wine.
We drink Sancerre, Pouilly Fume, and this mad Pinot/Gamay blend from a new (to me) appellation – Coteaux de Giennois (spelling??). This is for lunch….salade de tomates then yellow curry with beef and rice and sultanas.
Dunno if it’s the excitement or my palate but everything tastes better here….
This seems to be the norm for the day – the matriarch wakes in the morning, goes to the garden and plucks this and that, cooks up a feast. At about 1 a giant bell is rung and we descend from all corners of the estate to a giant table packed with bread and salt and salad. Wine is brought. I am made to taste it and pass judgement. The sun is in the sky, beating down its joyous rays. This is, I suspect, as close to heaven as I’m going to come in the next little while.
We spend the day by the pool getting a tan.
For dinner more of the same, plus a sparkling vouvray, plus…Bordeaux. Fuck. A 90 cru bourgeois in awesome condition – fresh and long and vibrant. Amazing colour. Chateau de Clare? I don't even care...
Tarte de girolles – fresh and local
Then quiche au tomates et salade et patates
Then cheese (avg unfortunately)
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