Sauternes

Apart from my classes lately, I have been getting to know a lot of my classmates lately. Most Fridays we like to take over local wine bars by going with all 50 of us. The wine bars seem to be getting used to having us around which has been a plus. In the fall/ early winter, the different wine regions all do what the French call "portes ouvertes". It's a type of open house where you don't need to reserve to come visit the chateau and taste wine, and the big bonus is that it happens on a weekend, since most chateaus only let you come and taste during the week.
For the portes ouvertes for Sauternes, a region known for its "vin doux" (sweet wine) that goes wonderfully with froie gras, I went with two girls I met from my program, one from Limoges and the other girl who is from Moldovia. We started out the day at the Maison de Sauternes, which is the center for all the chateaus, they organize a lot of the events in the area, we tasted some different styles of Sauternes, got oriented with which places to visit and started off.


Me in front of the actual Chateau on the Chateau Filhot property.

We then went to Chateau Filhot, where we impressed with the way they store their bottles of Sauternes. With age, this white wine turns more and more golden, so they like to refer to their cave as their "gold mine" which is very cute. It's quite a different process from what I have seen up until now. (Below is a photo of the "box" of their gold mine at Chateau Filhot)




Chateau Guiraud

After Chateau Filhot we stopped by Chateau Guiraud, we were impressed because their stainless steel cuves are not above ground, but set into the ground. Supposedly to make it easier to pump without using a pumping machine that introduces to much mixing of the juice as it ferments and can possibly stop the fermentation.

Our next stop was the Domaine du Rousset-Petraguey. This domaine is one that is biodynamic and organic. We were interested to see the difference as well as taste the difference! One main difference is that their wine stays in barrels for up to 5 years before being bottled and then sold. It's a very small domaine as well, they have 6 hectars where as Guiraud had 40 hectars (or more....). I thought it was the most unique of all the wines we tasted that day, very very golden, but a good acidity to balance the sugar content. Also the only place that had a 100% Semillion.


La Tour Blanche

Our last visit of the day was to Chateau La Tour Blanche. La Tour was family owned up until 100 years ago when the last family member died and she donated the Chateau and the property to the state on the condition that they make it a school for agriculture and wine. It is celebrating it's 100th year. It's a wonderful place because of this mix of trying to teach and yet produce a great product. Their vinification process is really well done and it shows by their wine (a little bit in the price as well). Though I definitely wouldn't buy their second wine even if it's more affordable.
All in all it was a great day, I learned a lot about tasting Sauternes.

London weekend

Us all together outside of the Tower of London.

Two weekends ago, Jeremie and I flew to London for the weekend to meet up with my parents and David. David is enjoying his study abroad session at University of Sussex and had the chance to welcome our parents on campus. They traveled around before meeting up with Jeremie and me for the weekend.
We got in to London late Friday night, and Saturday morning we started off with a great British Breakfast. After we made our way to the Tower of London (cant miss a chance to say hello to the royal jewels). After we took a very crowded double decker bus to the National Gallery.


The boys at lunch on the square.

We stopped for a late lunch on Trafalgar square, which was delicious. We wandered around the gallery admiring the immense collection. Jeremie particularly enjoyed seeing Seurat's Bathers at Asnieres. We all enjoyed Picasso's Sunflowers and the Vermeer of the "young girl standing at the Virginal (we thought of you Oma)
After the museum we went to Covent Garden to walk around and admire the shops. We took a break to stop at a wine bar and have a drink. We then decided to start heading back to the hotel area to look for a place to eat.


At the wine bar. "Cheers"

The next day we went to the Victoria and Albert Museum, my personal favorite in terms of museums. An ancient school of art, which is now a museum, they have replicas of many art pieces made by the students. Every which way you turn is full of interesting things to see. It doesn't hurt that there is another fairly large jewelery collection. We rushed through because we were going to have lunch with Dina and Howard. I was really glad to get to see them since they were so kind to host me in London for my first visit three years ago.

After lunch we went to visit Harrods, do some shopping, most window licking in the store though. (; A very large touristy shopping center. The photo of David and me browsing.


Window shopping with David

Jeremie decided that he wanted to go back to the V and A and look around more, he liked it so much. Afterwards we had a lovely dinner and then had to say good bye to David when he went back to school.
The following day my parents flew back to California while Jeremie and I flew back to Bordeaux.

Sorry that I haven't had much time to keep everyone updated. I am really busy with my graduate program, they keep us busy and it's far from home. Jeremie and I are looking forward to our California holiday (we arrive the 20th of December for ten days in the Cali sun). :)
Much love, Sarah