Wednesday, March 21st, Day 10

Talent develops in tranquility, character in the full current of human life. -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, poet, dramatist, novelist, and philosopher (1749-1832)

Hi Kids!

Up at 6:15am to send a few messages before others wake up. Kathleen left for work in Melbourne before 6:00am so won't see her until Easter weekend in Hunter Valley. Much warm love to you both, Dad!

Received a postcard at the office from Hong Kong...as our office
coordinator delivered it to me from the mailroom I jokingly asked her to
read it to me thinking it would be from Poppa in his signature Sanskrit
but she began to read it aloud!!!

It was a FULL paragraph from Nana! I was almost reduced to tears at the
gesture!!!

Happy travels kids!!! Send money for the new loft!! Love to all! 
Hello all,

 Well, we made it.   We are here.  Arrived in Paris around 4:00 PM.
Don and Ruyun werewaiting for us,
so we went to the car rental, signed our lives away,
lo aded up the luggage,and headed north to Arras.
Jo-Anne and I had beeen up since around 8:00 AM Vancouver
time on Tuesday, and Don and Ruyun had been on the way since 7:00 AM Montreal
time on Tuesday.  Needless to say, we were a car full of whacked weasels.

 Stopped at the Carrefour on the way into Arras, and got the
ingredients for an in room
picnic (we decided we were too tired to go looking for an eating establishment.
Checked into our rooms, then all met in our room for food and wine -
fresh baguettes,
brie, roquefort, goose pate, strawberries, creme caramel, and tomatoes.
 And of course, wine - Chateau Branda Puisseguin-St-Emilion 2009 (was
really good for
11 euros), and Chateau les Eyquem hautes graves 2010 Margaux
(incredibly good, again
only 12 euros). We topped it off with some Camus VS Cognac (15 euroes
a bottle), and
toddled off to bed.

 Tomorrow is Vimy and Ypres, two WW I battle sites.  Jo-Anne's
grandfather was at Vimy, so she really wants to see it. -Colin 

Hi Jo-Anne and Colin!

France already sounds wonderful! Wine prices here rival what you are paying, often even better. Will be visiting Clare, Barossa and MacLaren Vale while here. Had a wonderful day of wine tasting in and around Bendigo/Castlemaine yesterday.

March 21st, Day 10:

On the road by 11:10am to drive but a few kilometers to Bress to see if they are open. Steve said that according to local brochure they were probably closed. However, crush is on so if anyone is around and available we might be able to taste. Unfortunately, too, too busy to deal with visitors. Spoke to a young woman, originally from Paris, now working in Melbourne, up to help with the crush. Bit of a disappointment as offerings looked interesting. Flamin' was upset as she wanted to buy a large platter made from used barrel staves. Sarge was happy as he would have been charged with heavy-duty muleage for rest of trip, let alone flight home.

Next to Harcourt Valley. Wonderful tasting: Riesling was very dry and refreshingly crisp, Chardonnay a little bit too sharp and acidic for me. Liked the Riesling the best, not enough fruit in the Chard for my taste. Malbec was amazingly fruit forward, much more ripe berry than many of the Argentinian expressions. Shiraz was wonderfully peppery. Cabbage was not tannic enough for my palette but The Goils liked the softer approach. Sarge bought a six pack of the American Pale Ale, named for the "sightings" of panthers in the state. Supposedly, after the end of WW II, American soldiers released their mascots into the wild and some of the survivors' relatives still roam the countryside.

After paying for our purchases, we left, via the Pyrenees Highway, for Castlemaine, to pick up nosh for dinner, before making for next winery. Would decide which ones while shopping or over lunch. We found a parking spot downtown and Sarge accompanied the Goilds to butcher's/green grocer's for lamb and green beans, potatoes, tomatoes and feta cheese, as well as a bbq'd chook for lunch. Steve and I went to Priden Jewellers to see if I could buy a new watch strap for my Swatch. Didn't have one wide enough so we went up the street to the local post office for stamps. Met gang back at car and headed back to Old Oak to drop off groceries and have a bite of lunch.

Everyone made their own tasty, sliced chicken sandwiches. I feasted on bones and apple slices, (fruit grown by Mighty Nikos), and cheese. Cup of java and we were back in car. Decided to make for Sutton Grange first but place was closed as well. Funnily enough, another French intern, a young man from Nantes, told us that he didn't have expertise for tasting room and winemaker was running errands. Lovely situation, winery overlooking a fairly large dam, probably about a quarter of the size of the "pond" beside the Connors' cabin near St John's, picturesque hills as backdrop.

Next stop, Mandurang Valley. Steve had phoned ahead, during lunch, so we knew we would be able to taste. Very friendly women, Leslie Vine, winemaker's wife, pouring. Fountain of information but I really didn't think all that much of most of the offerings. Liked the Chardonnay over the Riesling but found all the reds uninspiring, flat, lacking any or much varietal character. Hard to imagine that there was so much demand for such plonk, at least according to Leslie. According to her they are selling much of their overall production to the Chinese, a burgeoning market as one can well imagine. Can only believe that the customers there don't have particularly discriminating palettes. Something one might expect, given that wine really has not been a part of the alcohol culture, as I understand things, in the way it has been, in Canada and the US, roughly since the '70's, for example. Must say I was rather disappointed as until then I had been very taken with most, if not all, the wines from in and around Bendigo. Still, that is what one must expect, realistically speaking.

Last visit of the day was to Balgownie Estate, one of the first wineries in the area. Much more impressed with their offerings. Young woman behind tasting counter was new to job so the assistant winemaker, Tony Winspear, poured for us. Very endearing and knowledgeable chap so it was an enjoyable experience all around. Chardonnay was perhaps the tastiest of that varietal we'd come across here, Pinot Gris was pleasant enough while the Sauvignon Blanc was flavourful and grassy, jus the way I like it. Was not overly impressed by the Shiraz but the Shiraz/Cabbage blend was very appealing.  Cab itself was attractive but I found the Sangiovese to be the most interesting of all. Stevo and I settled not hat for our take-away. Thanking Tony for his time and comments, we bundled into car and made for Harcourt North.

When we started out that morning it had pelted rain just as we turned onto road at the bottom of the driveway and downpour kept up until we reached Harcourt Valley. By the time we found our way to the tasting room it had turned to a light drizzle and once we were in Castlemaine it was dry and sunny. Stayed that way for the rest of the afternoon and early evening. Quite a contrast from the fierce winds, cool temperature and dark sky which greeted us when we woke up.