Tag: France

Metz and Its Little Hideaways…

“Metz is a city that has known many wars, but which has also known moments of peace and great prosperity. It is a city rich in history and culture.” – François Hollande, former President of the French Republic.

For St Patrick’s Day 2023, we decided to celebrate in our own way and head to a wine bar, “La Quille”, on Place de Chambre.

Intimate and refined in its decor, we were warmly welcomed, and I recommend the place:

We were sensible, and I let myself be tempted by a wine from Chinon.

The estate is located in the village of Cravant-les-Coteaux, around 8 kilometres south-west of the town of Chinon. It covers about 12 hectares of vineyards, all on the left bank of the Vienne, the region’s main river. The vines are planted on clay-limestone soils and farmed using environmentally friendly methods.

The owner explains that he selects his wines for their commitment to the environment. The wines of Domaine Fabrice Gasnier are renowned for their elegance, their freshness and their finesse.

Let’s pair it with a little something to nibble on and see what happens!

This wine is beautiful and very pleasant. Oh, it’s no Beaujolais — but I make out an aroma of banana!

It announces a quick, light wine; I’m worried, and then experience puts me back on track! Don’t judge by appearances! And indeed, this wine turns out to be a real treat. Thanks La Quille for this lovely discovery…

July 16, 2026
Côte-Rôtie and Its Joys…

Here’s a Côte-Rôtie that left me anything but indifferent! Philippe Pacalet.

A little history:

In the 19th century, phylloxera devastated the vineyards of France, including that of Côte-Rôtie. The vines were destroyed and had to be replanted, which took several decades. The region’s winegrowers persevered, however, and managed to bring this vineyard back to life.

In the 20th century, winemakers such as Marius Gentaz and Marcel Guigal — I’ll tell you about him in a future post — helped build the reputation of Côte-Rôtie by producing exceptional wines. Today, the Côte-Rôtie vineyard is considered one of the most prestigious in France and in the world, and the wines produced there are highly prized by connoisseurs.

Back to this Côte-Rôtie by Philippe Pacalet:

It’s a red wine produced in the Rhône Valley wine region, in France. It’s made from Syrah and Viognier grapes, the latter added in small quantity to bring a touch of floral aromas.

Its structure is more complex than it seems. A very welcome and very pleasant length on the palate. A fragrant, typical nose right from opening. The Syrah grapes that make it up aren’t my favourites, but here, I admit it, I’m won over.

It’s elegant, complex and marked by spice — in short, everything I love in a wine. Young or old, you’ll enjoy it at any age!

At a tasting among friends, I was astonished to see it win everyone over. Ladies and gentlemen alike all enjoyed it.

If Côte-Rôtie isn’t to your taste, you’ll also find exceptional Pommard or Nuits-Saint-Georges wines at this house. Philippe Pacalet is a renowned winemaker known for his respectful approach to nature and his commitment to biodynamics. The grapes used for the Côte-Rôtie are grown organically and biodynamically, which means they’re grown without the use of chemicals and using environmentally friendly farming methods.

That said, I’ll grant you its price matches the brew: it will be hard to find below €80 — but it’s a “must-have”!

July 15, 2026
Château Moulin de la Rose — An Exceptional Family Saint-Julien

Passers-by, you are entering the ancient and celebrated cru of Saint-Julien; pay your respects!
Motto of the commune of Saint-Julien-de-Beychevelle

The Saint-Julien appellation is one of the four communal appellations of the Médoc, alongside Margaux, Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe.

The most famous estates of Saint-Julien include names such as Château Léoville-Las Cases, Château Léoville-Poyferré, Château Léoville-Barton, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Château Gruaud-Larose and many others. Today I’m telling you about an estate less in the spotlight than these grands crus: Château Moulin de la Rose.

Since 1971, Guy Delon — together with his children Jean-François and Guylène, the first in the vines, the second handling the commercial side — has worked to produce an exceptional wine, and the result is sublime for this Lord of Saint-Julien.

You look at it, and quickly a lovely deep red with lighter, almost chocolatey edges appears as you swirl it.

The robe is highly nuanced; this brownish red is a warning: careful, you’d better get ready — we already sense it, we’ve got something good here!

On the nose it plays hide-and-seek. You have to hunt for the fruit — redcurrant, then vanilla — but leather and wood are ever-present. It nonetheless keeps a very steady balance; it won’t come and prickle your nose.

It’s confirmed: this wine is good — and yet we haven’t even tasted it.

After smelling and observing it, you feel this wine is extremely carefully crafted, every detail counts; no doubt the team is meticulous. I almost want to stop there, hardly daring to taste it for fear my eyes and nose might disappoint me.

Still, it’s hard to tell my host, “I won’t taste it!”.

On the palate, quickly it’s wood, wood and more wood… the tannins aren’t all that powerful but enough to remind us of its origin, typical of the great Médocs of Saint-Julien; the balance is striking and then, at last, the second curtain reveals the fruit.

The length begins with a little spike that reveals the wine’s maturity; it will be present and long.

Yes, it’s good, it’s very very good. The value for money is exceptional: at a price of around €30, it gives you access to an exceptional Saint-Julien! This 2017 is perfectly ready to drink and will surprise the most demanding guests. Don’t hesitate to pair this wine with a fine red meat, or poultry in sauce. No time? No problem — a nice pizza will do the trick.

July 15, 2026