We came. We saw. We drank. We ate. We drank. Yes I believe in a balanced diet. 2 drink portions for every one food portion. Unless we run out of food of course then it is simply open slather on the liquid stuff. Have yet to be disappointed by a day long wine trip and still batting 1000 tonight folks
Started at 0700 and picked up one other couple on way – slightly older and very pleasant Yanks – before the 90 minute drive in a very comfortable van out to Champagne region. Our guide was Vietnamese and very knowledgable. I did not pick up everything he said due to accent but the only thing I need to know with champagne is ” Why is that cork still in the bottle Charlie ? “. It was great to see well known varieties like Bollinger et al on the vine and then we went to a small family operated winery for some edumacation and maybe a tipple or two. Now I mentioned this previously but the generous nature of my new fave people La Frogs lives on in wine tasting sizes as well. Very tasty indeed and a couple of bottles purchased . Charlie said “It is safe to take on plane back to Australia ” I relied ” Pal, it it makes it back to Paris tonight I will be amazed , it’s a 90 minute car trip you know !”
Then onto yet another great lunch topped off by yet another superb chocolate dessert. I may be lucky to retain my svelte figure at this rate. Luckily my charm will still draw in the Sheilas. So after getting bombed before lunch it was now time to see a real bomb site – Reims Cathedral. When CLP first mentioned for only 175 Euro we could have a whole day of Reims my life flashed before my eyes. Except for March 2012 for some reason. Anyhoo, when I realised she was referring to an actual location I relaxed considerably. As did my sphincter. It is a stunning cathedral no doubt and well worth a look I guess, unless you have already seen 245 cathedrals. It did have great natural light though. Sadly, as often happens, there was a lot of scaffolding on front entrance. Something I am considering getting done too.
After this it was time to visit the Taittanger Champagne house and go down into the caves for some more edumacation. Charlie was replaced by the local Chantilly this time who resembled the embodiment of French Sheilas – a little stunning, somewhat aloof and haughty, definitely sexy and largely indifferent to my presence. It was an impressive collection of bottles indeed. Then back up to ground level for two more quarts of tasting.
We rolled into the van and started the 2 hr trip back to Paris. A great day indeed and well worth the money
flashman181 