Tag: Châteauneuf-du-Pape

WINING AND DINING GRACEFULLY IN SOUTHERN FRANCE

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Our wine scribe Jim Walker and his wife Hélène have been visiting Provence and other areas of southern France at least annually (except for the last two plague-infested anni horribiles) for more than 30 years. To absolutely no-one’s surprise, they have spent a considerable amount of time during those sojourns sampling the local fare and vinous offerings. Jim comments on his gustatory observations and experiences in his latest contribution to Gentleman’s Portion.

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THAT BASTIDE NEAR CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE

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Our wine scribe Jim Walker’s 60th birthday was fast approaching and his wife Hélène wanted to know how he wanted to celebrate it. “How about with a bunch of close friends in Provence,” he suggested somewhat facetiously. “If anyone would come,” he added. So Hélène got the word out and low and behold everyone thought it was a grand idea. And that was how a long, thoroughly enjoyable association with Beatrice Navarre and her bastide near Châteauneuf du Pape began.

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THAT WINERY NEAR AIX-EN-PROVENCE

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Way back in the mists of time when our wine scribe Jim Walker was contemplating wine importing, it not surprisingly occurred to him that he needed wineries to represent. But, what vintner in their right mind would expose their vinous treasures to a neophyte agent, let alone a recently retired banker? Astonishingly, Martine Sauvage and her Château Beauferan jumped fearlessly into the breach.  

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THE FARAUD SISTERS AND THEIR GORGEOUS GIGONDAS

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The town of Gigondas

More and more women are successfully taking control of wineries around the world. Such is the case at Domaine du Cayron. The difference, as our wine scribe Jim Walker discovered, is that this stellar Gigondas producer of the Southern Rhône is operated by three sisters – Delphine, Cendrine and Roseline Faraud.
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SUSSING OUT THE SUCCULENT SOUTHERN RHÔNES

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As many of you know, our wine scribe Jim Walker operates Arthur’s Cellar Wine Club and imports wine from France’s southern Rhône region into Ontario. He, along with his wife and vinous partner Hélène, journey regularly to southern France to assess recent vintages and maintain relationships with their vintners. Here Jim chronicles the latest visit to their beloved Provence.

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THAT OTHER CHÂTEAU IN CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE

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You can’t miss it as you motor along D17 towards the storied town of Châteauneuf-du-Pape — the neo-gothic castle looming high on the hill to the right, standing guard over countless rows of impeccably tended vines. That the imposing structure and the family that owned it would figure prominently in our wine scribe Jim Walker’s vinous adventures is just one of those serendipitous occurrences. Continue reading “THAT OTHER CHÂTEAU IN CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE”