... I'm writing this piece, 10 000 ft about ground level, crossing the ocean on my way to France. I'll be aptempting a wine salon in Blois call "Les Vins Du Coin". 20 winemakers, 3 cuvees each, spread throughout the week-end. I'll be posting from there, may be not live but I promise to try to post everyday about lunches, dinners, tastings and local curiosity !!!
Got some things lined up already like Thursday's gonna be lunch @ "Le Verre Vole" and dinner @ "Baratin", Friday lunch @ "L'Ecailler" then I'll hit the train down to Blois and from there, who knows what's gonna happen...!!!

Otherwise, let's talk about wine. Got some new ones in da house, 4 reds and a white, 2 italians and 2 french. Let's start with the italians with a Barbera d'Alba 07 from Guidobuono (I would have bought it just for the name). The vines are about 10 years old, the alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel then it's vinified in large oak cask for 6 months. The result is a nicely structured wine with a great acidity that balances with a touch of fruitiness made of ripe cherries and soft & round tannins.

Still in the Alba region, we going to visit Luca Roagna. He's the young 5th generation on the Domaine. His Dolcetto is considered to be the "baby of the estate". The 08 is a beautiful, fresh, mineral baby with supple tannins and a bitting touch of acidity. Real well balanced and really delicious.

What about some Cabernet Franc from the Loire??? The 08 vintage of "La Gautrie" from Christian Venier shows that a good Cab can have the palest ruby color and still have a great complexity along with some spicy cherry notes. In one word, or more, easy to drink and will pair with a lots of dishes @ a kick ass price ($35)

Then, @ last, a wine from Jean-Francois Ganevat. After being reviewed by Eric Asimov a couple months ago in an article about wines from the Jura region, everybody bought his wines now left are the most expensive cuvees. His estate is located in the southern part of the region, less known for his wines than the Arbois-Pupillin A.O.C, located in the northern part. I tried a couple of his reds that were very yummy with a little more body than the Arbois, but today we're getting a white (that I didn't try yet). It's a Chardonnay cuvee "Les Grandes Teppes" 06, made from old vines (average 80 years old) planted by his grand father. Promise I'll have a sip of it as soon as I'm back.

Let's talk food here a little bit. We started our Sunday Night Delicacies journey in Algeria, then went up to Spain so this week, we just gonna go a little further west to Portugal. And for the occasion, who better than Jose can bring us some Portuguese flair??? Nobody!!!
Yes, screaming crowds, after almost a full year, we, I mean YOU will have the pleasure to enjoy Jose's BACALAHO...!!! 

Here I am... PARIS!!! Straight in the subway to

 

and right away, my breakfast with

Time to eat...