After an absence of some years I am back in France, specifically SW France, Bordeaux, Bergerac, the Pyrenees, Toulouse.
It is always a shock when arriving in France to see so many people smoking. Tobacco still dominates but there is some vaping. It seems you can still smoke in outdoor cafes, but at lunch today outdoor diners were segregated from those who just wanted a drink and a lungbuster. How can a country with so many of its citizens polluting their tastebuds and the air around them manage to produc such good wine.
We started our trip in Bordeaux, the main attraction, apart from the city itself was City du Vin, …described here
Although the worst of the heatwave has subsided it is still very summery here. So I have been drinking mainly whites and rose, with the occasional red,
One was a bottle of Abouriou from the cote de Marmandias. Shared with friends.
Marmande is East of Bordeaux but outside the region. Climate and variety mix is similar but they have fewer inhibitions about rare varieties.
Monbazzilac is most famous for its Botrytis affected whites.
These grapes are affected by the nobble rot fungus, some are already shrivelled, others are on the way. I’m not sure about the leaf mottling, but someone more viticulturally experienced will be able to help us.
Elsewhere in the South West there is plenty of Tannat, in assorted blends including from th Madiran AOC. Big heavy wine more suitable for winter, but when in Toulouse you need to eat Toulouse sausage, and that need something with body.
We are now in Toulouse, about to leave, but not without sampling a Fronton. This AOC relies on the rather rare red variety Negrette. I don’t think there is any in Australia - yet.
Cheers