Salut/Hi Mike Tommasi,

le/on Sat, 01 Oct 2005 13:04:42 +0200, tu disais/you said:-

>>>More fundamentally, I would be very suspicious of this attitude towards
>>>vintages, whereby as soon as one is labelled "bad" it is assumed that a)
>>>it hit everybody in a large area in the same way b) wines from a lesser
>>>vintage are not worth consideration.
>>
>>
>> SHUSH, the more people make such generalisations, the better chance there is
>> to get bargains.
>
>How's Lord St. Helier? Did you let him sleep in your cellar?

He seemed to be suitably amused by the brief visit. At least he's talking
about coming back! And no, I did NOT let him sleep in my cellar, the gravel
wouldn't have done much for Kathryn's back!

We had some agreeable meals and pleasant picnics and I even started training
him to notice mushrooms in fields as we drove past! The Esk Valley Terraces
he brought was magnificent and he seemed to like the burgundies we served -
at least he was polite about them, which is uncharacteristic! We've got
"Sojourner" coming for a night tomorrow, which should be fun. The French
onion soup and Terrine de Campagne are ready and the magrets and tarte tatin
(I didn't do one for his lawdship) ought to please, with luck.

--
All the Best
Ian Hoare
http://www.souvigne.com
mailbox full to avoid spam. try me at website

"Ian Hoare" > wrote in message
...
>>How's Lord St. Helier? Did you let him sleep in your cellar?
>
> He seemed to be suitably amused by the brief visit. At least he's talking
> about coming back! And no, I did NOT let him sleep in my cellar, the
> gravel
> wouldn't have done much for Kathryn's back!

IIRC, there isn't much room on the floor in there anyway. Besides, would
you think it safe to leave him alone in there with all that fine wine? ;^)

The Esk Valley Terraces
> he brought was magnificent and he seemed to like the burgundies we
> served -
> at least he was polite about them, which is uncharacteristic!

So I've gathered from exchanges on this NG. Rather feisty chap, sounds
like - although I've never met him in person. Perhaps a trip to NZ is in
order for yours truly. OTOH, perhaps he (and his S.O.) will show up here
first.

We've got
> "Sojourner" coming for a night tomorrow, which should be fun. The French
> onion soup and Terrine de Campagne are ready and the magrets and tarte
> tatin
> (I didn't do one for his lawdship) ought to please, with luck.

I'm _envious_, and wishing I were there too. Bon Apetit to all!

Tom S

P.S. - Just to drag this back on topic, the 2002 harvest here in California
was very good, so the "bad 2002 harvest" isn't all that widespread. :^)

"Mike Tommasi"; "Ian Hoare" & "Tom S" discussed his Lordship's wellbeing..

>>> How's Lord St. Helier?

Lord & Lady St.H have "reluctantly" returned to the antipodes having enjoyed
immensly their all-too-brief visit. Thanks muchly to Mike & Kathy Tommasi
and Ian & Jacquie Hoare for making the trip so very special.


>>> Did you let him sleep in your cellar?

Nope - but I did sneek a peek when M. Hoare was otherwise engaged - hee
hee hee!!!!!


>> He seemed to be suitably amused by the brief visit. At least he's talking
>> about coming back!

It is not a matter of *if* he will be back, but *when*!!!

>> The Esk Valley Terraces he brought was magnificent and he seemed
>> to like the burgundies we served -
>> at least he was polite about them, which is uncharacteristic!

The wine and food and particularly the matches were quite excellent, Ian.

In these columns, over the years, the difficulty matching soup with wine has
been discussed at length - the Sercial Madiera with your Cepe consumé was a
revelation, and I never thought I would admit to being "fois gras-ed out"!!!

>
> So I've gathered from exchanges on this NG. Rather feisty chap, sounds
> like - although I've never met him in person. Perhaps a trip to NZ is in
> order for yours truly. OTOH, perhaps he (and his S.O.) will show up here
> first.
>

Tom, I cannot speak for your plans, except to say that I would be proud to
show you around our little piece of paradise any time you choose to venture
south, but Kathryn and I *will* be returning to the States; fall next year
has already been pencilled onto our travel calendar.

As to being feisty, I resemble that remark - I am just a placid, bear-like
creature, who readily admits to "shooting from the lip" on the odd occasion
without fearing whose feathers may be ruffled.

At all other times, I am more than happy to sit quietly anticipating the
coming summer of sun and sand and fresh fish, salad and sauvignon blanc.

--

st.helier

"st.helier" > wrote in message
...
Sorry to respond here, but I can't seem to locate HL's e-mail address at the
moment.

> Tom, I cannot speak for your plans, except to say that I would be proud to
> show you around our little piece of paradise any time you choose to
> venture south, but Kathryn and I *will* be returning to the States; fall
> next year has already been pencilled onto our travel calendar.

Let me know when you'll be in the Los Angeles area so I can have the red
carpet laundered. :^)

Tom S