Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Carrousel du Louvre, the grand tasting

On the site of la Passion du Vin, I read a comment from François Audouze dated December 13, on Alain Dutournier’s restaurant, le Carré des Feuillants in Paris. This year’s white truffles are particularly fragrant. I hope that the Maury 2007 from Thunevin-Calvet was served with chocolate.

As for us, it was the first time we ate at the restaurant Emporio Armani, 149 boulevard Saint Germain, situated in a great location next to Brasserie Lipp, across the street from Café de Flore, not far from the wine store La Maison des Millésimes. Quality service, stylish, Italian, and for me an all'albese carne, served with a nice cloud of Alba white truffle, which was top quality (with a Carmenère red wine from around Venice). Good brasserie, as well, La Rotunde, 105 Boulevard du Montparnasse.

The wine bar Juvenile's, 47 rue de Richelieu, had a warm atmosphere, its astonishing boss (Tim) is able to be successful without a single drop of Bordeaux, young and charming waiters, quality food and a very pleasant Alion from Ribera del Duero, and a clientele crazy about wine. An address that I highly recommend.
All of this because, or thanks to the Carrousel du Louvre where Bettane & Desseauve organized The Grand Tasting which, this year, was taking place in a large space, the price of success, the number of participants - exhibitors and visitors – had, in my opinion beat any expectation.

It was the opportunity to see, and see again our clients, buddies, friends, enthusiasts and newcomers. We were with Fleur Cardinale and Carles, and 7 on the stand : the Decoster family (Matthieu, Florence and Dominique) for Fleur Cardinale, Didier, Ramuntxo, Murielle and I to present Thunevin Calvet Maury and Dentelles, Bad Boy, Valandraud, Haut Carles. Our neighbors from Terre de Lisse were next to us with Pressac, Rol Valentin and Faugères, our neighbor on the right was the Clos des Fées, and for all of us lots of visitors (12 bottles of samples per wine in 2 days, and using slow-pourers)
It was also an opportunity to speak to the people in charge of PR for various media, and meet Michel Bettane, Bernard Burtschy, Armand Borlant, José Penin, Denis Hervier, Eric Riewer, Angélique de Lencquessaing, our colleagues from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, from the South, and many others I was able to greet, except François Mauss (who I didn’t see) who, in Paris or Hong Kong doesn’t have the time anymore to say hello.
I need to renew my stock of truffles from Perigord if I finally want to drink this Rayas 2002.

Back at the office, I was surprise to see that our landlines were down… and Orange cannot send us a technician until tomorrow morning (professional customer service! ): until then long live cell phones and emails!

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