I went to the dark side

I know it's been a while since I posted, this does not mean I have not been drinking wine.  I have been doing some repeats of my favorite cheap Rose from local DIA Market.  I have been spending my time "researching" whether cheap wine is any less appealing than "not cheap".

I have been to Reims, home of the Champagne region, and have to say "I might have acquired a taste for expensive Champagne".  We planned a last minute trip to Reims and the only tour available at the Veuve Cliquot was their most expensive tour.  After some hesitation and a cheap bottle of Rose, I confirmed our reservation.  The tour was comprised of just 4 people and was a 2.5 hour tour of their house and cayeres.  We had a private tasting in one of the cayeres with their sommolier of 4 different "Cave Prive" vintages. This tasting also included a cheese pairing with each vintage and I have to tell you "WOW".  This was not the cheese I have picked up at local DIA or gourmand epicerie for that matter.  In retrospect, experience "priceless", getting Champagne home $60.00 via 2nd piece of luggage on American Airlines.

I also visited one of the "Best" wine shops in Paris today.  Lavinia Madeleine, this is a store comprised of 3 floors of wines from all over the world.  You can purchase a card that you insert in different tasting stations and select a sample of various wines.  I splurged and sampled a bottle of wine that retails for €315.00.  The sample was €10.00.  I have to say I was disapointed in said wine and proceeded downstairs to the "Cheap Wine" sample station (average €1.50 per sample).  Found a lovely red from the Loire valley that came home with me, but is above the €5.00 limit this blog has been all about.  It is a staggering €14.30 per bottle (still a bargain in my book). 

This brings me to my casual dating of a couple of wines from the Languedoc-Rousillon Region.  I purchased a bottle of 2008 L'Ancienne Mercerie Couture Faugeres.  This bottle was €16.00.  I know I could have bought 3-4 bottles of wine for that price, but I had to see weather price made a difference.  I have to say that I enjoyed my "cheap" Faugeres as much as the "expensive" Faugeres.  I give it credit to being a bit more full bodied, but with a bit more tannins. Do I think it is worth the price tag of 4 times the first bottle of Faugeres, the answer is no. It is a lovely wine, but I was happy with my  "cheap" Faugeres.




My side note for the day:  We had lunch in a department store today at a cafeteria.  They had a beverage station with the usual sodas, ice tea and WINE!  You filled your glass or pitcher of 1 of the 5 selections available.  What a perfect world these French people live in!