I am traveling to France with my brother soon, and will be spending 5
days in Avignon (and surrounding towns, including 1 night in
Carcassonne) during the 3rd week of September.

I'm curious to know what the good wine shops are in this town. They
need not be in Avignon proper, but it would be preferable if they were
not too far out of the way.

Also, somebody is working on getting us an appointment at Beaucastel,
but apart from this, what are the "must see" vineyards in the area
(including the considerable area between Avignon and Carcassonne)?
We're thinking perhaps Domaine de l'Arjolle and maybe Flaugergues,
which aren't too far off the A9.

Note: this is not primarily a wine tour. We can dedicate part of the
drive to/from Carcassonne, and 1 full day in Avignon, to that purpose.

Thanks!

- Chris

Chris Sprague wrote:
> I am traveling to France with my brother soon, and will be spending 5
> days in Avignon (and surrounding towns, including 1 night in
> Carcassonne) during the 3rd week of September.
>
> I'm curious to know what the good wine shops are in this town. They
> need not be in Avignon proper, but it would be preferable if they were
> not too far out of the way.
>
> Also, somebody is working on getting us an appointment at Beaucastel,
> but apart from this, what are the "must see" vineyards in the area
> (including the considerable area between Avignon and Carcassonne)?
> We're thinking perhaps Domaine de l'Arjolle and maybe Flaugergues,
> which aren't too far off the A9.
>
> Note: this is not primarily a wine tour. We can dedicate part of the
> drive to/from Carcassonne, and 1 full day in Avignon, to that purpose.

Chris,
As you probably know, Avignon is almost next door to the town of
Chateauneuf-du-Pape, so I would suggest spending a day visiting wineries
there and in the neighboring towns of Bedarrides and Courthezon.
Beaucastel is sort of out in the sticks, but in the town proper are Clos
des Papes, le Vieux Donjon, la Nerthe, Dom. de Marcoux and Dom. de
Pegau. My personal favorites to visit are Pegau and Clos des Papes, but
your tastes may differ. For a more complete list of places to visit,
see the section of the FAQ on the Rhone Valley (URL in my sig).

HTH
Mark Lipton
--
alt.food.wine FAQ: http://winefaq.hostexcellence.com

Chris Sprague > wrote in
oups.com:

> I am traveling to France with my brother soon, and will be spending 5
> days in Avignon (and surrounding towns, including 1 night in
> Carcassonne) during the 3rd week of September.
>
> I'm curious to know what the good wine shops are in this town. They
> need not be in Avignon proper, but it would be preferable if they were
> not too far out of the way.
>
> Also, somebody is working on getting us an appointment at Beaucastel,
> but apart from this, what are the "must see" vineyards in the area
> (including the considerable area between Avignon and Carcassonne)?
> We're thinking perhaps Domaine de l'Arjolle and maybe Flaugergues,
> which aren't too far off the A9.
>
> Note: this is not primarily a wine tour. We can dedicate part of the
> drive to/from Carcassonne, and 1 full day in Avignon, to that purpose.
>
> Thanks!
>
> - Chris
>

YOu could also look as Mark suggests at the FAQ Gigondas is a good stop as
is Seguret. you could tie that tri in with a stop in Vaison de la Romaine.

--
Joseph Coulter, cruises and vacations
www.josephcoulter.com

877 832 2021
904 631 8863 cell

On Aug 23, 4:53 am, Joseph Coulter > wrote:
> Chris Sprague > wrote groups.com:
>
>
>
>
>
> > I am traveling to France with my brother soon, and will be spending 5
> > days in Avignon (and surrounding towns, including 1 night in
> > Carcassonne) during the 3rd week of September.
>
> > I'm curious to know what the good wine shops are in this town. They
> > need not be in Avignon proper, but it would be preferable if they were
> > not too far out of the way.
>
> > Also, somebody is working on getting us an appointment at Beaucastel,
> > but apart from this, what are the "must see" vineyards in the area
> > (including the considerable area between Avignon and Carcassonne)?
> > We're thinking perhaps Domaine de l'Arjolle and maybe Flaugergues,
> > which aren't too far off the A9.
>
> > Note: this is not primarily a wine tour. We can dedicate part of the
> > drive to/from Carcassonne, and 1 full day in Avignon, to that purpose.
>
> > Thanks!
>
> > - Chris
>
> YOu could also look as Mark suggests at the FAQ Gigondas is a good stop as
> is Seguret. you could tie that tri in with a stop in Vaison de la Romaine.
>
> --
> Joseph Coulter, cruises and vacationswww.josephcoulter.com
>
> 877 832 2021
> 904 631 8863 cell- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Chris,
We just returned from a trip in that area and would 2nd both Mark and
Joseph's recommendations. There is a loop you can do that takes you
through Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Vaison de la Romanie and Beumes de
Venise to the east of CdP. In CdP, we visited Chateau de Vaudieu, they
have some lovely wines and are not sold in the states. Their website
is www.famillebrechet.fr.

Tom AZ

On Wed, 22 Aug 2007 19:49:22 -0700
Chris Sprague > wrote:

> I am traveling to France with my brother soon, and will be spending 5
> days in Avignon (and surrounding towns, including 1 night in
> Carcassonne) during the 3rd week of September.
>
> I'm curious to know what the good wine shops are in this town. They
> need not be in Avignon proper, but it would be preferable if they were
> not too far out of the way.
>
> Also, somebody is working on getting us an appointment at Beaucastel,
> but apart from this, what are the "must see" vineyards in the area
> (including the considerable area between Avignon and Carcassonne)?
> We're thinking perhaps Domaine de l'Arjolle and maybe Flaugergues,
> which aren't too far off the A9.
>
> Note: this is not primarily a wine tour. We can dedicate part of the
> drive to/from Carcassonne, and 1 full day in Avignon, to that purpose.
>

Hi Chris,

Just back from a week in the area. Also not a wine-o-centric tour,
spent most of it swimming in the Ouveze and Toulerenc. But can
tell you that it is very easy to pick out a few favorites and spend an
day, stop in Rasteau (Soumade), Cairanne (Richaud), Vacqueyras
(Clos des Cazeaux), Beames-de-Venise (Durban), CdP (Beaucastel
if you like).

I was unaware that an appt was necessary at Beaucastel, didn't used to
be the case. In any case you can just give them a call to arrange, or
Mike's idea is good.

My trip report is minimal as I didn't take notes. We went to Roger Perrin
to place a big order, quality was as usual very high and the prices good.
I thought more of the white than usual. Also ordered from Clos des Cazaux,
Vaqueyras and Gigondas. I consider this to be one of the best Vacqueyrases,
and they did not disappoint. (Also they gain big points by not charging for
shipping from 36 bottles; and the nice mag of 04 Gigondas they gifted us
didn't hurt!) Of note at CdC are 2 unusual wines (the names of which I won't
remember 'til later, sorry): first, a bizarre red made from botrytis infected
grenache [!], really interesting and spicey but frankly not to my taste; and an
amazing botrytis grenache blanche, of which only one barrel is made, one
of the most complex and interesting stickies I've had in some time.

We visited Rieu Frais at Ste Jalle, to see what their Baronnies wines are doing.
The cuvée Alexandre (merlot syrah with some oak) is interesting and still a
deal, but shipping is dear. May order, not sure.

Our hosts gave us a few bottles, from the coops at Puymeras (now a villages
level wine) and at Seguret. Both were correct without more -- though I believe
Seguret is a good coop -- for low end bottles. We decided to visit the Puymeras
folks as we were very close, it was frankly a bit depressing: the wines were undistinguished
and we were told that 90% of the production is shipped off in tankers to
who-knows-what destination, maybe negoce, maybe alcohol. The folks there
were not seemingly interested. When you look at a coop like this, which produces
well in excess of a half million hectoliters, it is easy to see the crisis in the industry.
Really too bad as there are many very well kept and old vines among the
fields.

The revelation of the trip was a property which, although it's not currently
distributed in the US, would I think do really really well there. Potential
importers, take note! Called le Faucon Doré (located in Faucon near Buis)
the wines are made from all organic grapes. Average vine age is up around
70 years. The top cuvée is made at a yield of 10 hecto/hectare! Unbelievable.
The 3 single cepage wines (syrah, grenache, merlot) are picked at physiological
peak and attain a whopping 15%, this at 350 m altitude! Whacking great primary
wines, I will be very interested in what happens with a little age. The only wine
I didn't like much, paradoxically, was the most expensive syrah; too much new oak.
But I know many who wouldn't be put off by this. Oh, and I thought the viognier
a little stiff and acidic. But the simple white, made from 50% 100 year old ugni blanc[!]
and 50% grenache, was really lovely. (All wines except the top at 10 EU and under).
Highly recommend a visit, and as I said these guys really should get snapped up
by a distributor.

Chris if you're there at the right time the market at Vaison is on tuesday, excellent
and very large.

cheers,

-E

--
Emery Davis
You can reply to ecom
by removing the well known companies
Questions about wine? Visit http://winefaq.hostexcellence.com

On Thu, 30 Aug 2007 21:08:15 -0400
"Christopher Sprague" > wrote:

> Question about Cote de Cazoux:
>
> Are those bottles of botrytis grenache and grenache blanc available for
> purchase, and if so, how much? I think you've talked us in to trying to
> visit this location. Gosh, 36 bottles shipped back? I can't imagine we'll
> do that, but more power to you.
>
> Regarding Beaucastel, you do need an appointment now, and I'm happy to say
> that we've managed to make on. I'm looking forward to it, as I've heard
> nothing but good things.
>

Hi Chris,

The Beaucastel tour was good, at least long ago. Sorry to hear appts required
now though, doesn't seem right, especially given the size of the operations.

Regarding Clos des Cazaux, the wines are indeed available for sale assuming
there is stock left. I don't remember the price of the botrytis red, maybe 12 or 15 EU.
The sticky is 25 EU for 50 CL, expensive but not for the quality and of course
only 900 bottles made. I doubt this is part of most tastings, (we're long time
clients) so you may need to ask. Extraordinary complexity.

As for the shipping, we live in France, but 9 hours away by car. I doubt shipping
to the US would be free! Sorry to be unclear.

If you do go to Vacqueyras and are adventuresome you might consider taking the
little dirt road between Gigondas and Beaumes, which takes the high pass through
the Dentelles de Montmirail. A lovely (and bumpy) drive that shows where
some of the best Gigondas get their typicity.

One other point I forgot in the other post, you will be very close to the AOC Nyons
for Olive Oil (which overlaps the CdR). This is IMHO some of the best OO in
the world, made from the subtle Tanche variety. (As you climb the Ouveze valley
from Vaison polyculture becomes the rule, most properties produce wine, apricot
nectar (fantastic), olive oil. In fact we bought a liter of OO from Clos des Cazaux,
though I doubt it was Nyonsais that far down, and being pressed in the mill at
Beaumes.)

Have a great trip,

-E


> Thanks for the great advice,
>
> Chris
>
>
>
> "Emery Davis" > wrote in message
> ...
> On Wed, 22 Aug 2007 19:49:22 -0700
> Chris Sprague > wrote:
>
> My trip report is minimal as I didn't take notes. We went to Roger Perrin
> to place a big order, quality was as usual very high and the prices good.
> I thought more of the white than usual. Also ordered from Clos des Cazaux,
> Vaqueyras and Gigondas. I consider this to be one of the best Vacqueyrases,
> and they did not disappoint. (Also they gain big points by not charging for
> shipping from 36 bottles; and the nice mag of 04 Gigondas they gifted us
> didn't hurt!) Of note at CdC are 2 unusual wines (the names of which I
> won't
> remember 'til later, sorry): first, a bizarre red made from botrytis
> infected
> grenache [!], really interesting and spicey but frankly not to my taste; and
> an
> amazing botrytis grenache blanche, of which only one barrel is made, one
> of the most complex and interesting stickies I've had in some time.
>
>


--
Emery Davis
You can reply to ecom
by removing the well known companies
Questions about wine? Visit http://winefaq.hostexcellence.com