OVERVIEW & QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
Happy Bastille Day!
LIVESTREAM.
My last Vino Voices livestream covered ‘satellite appellations’ of Bordeaux in France, and included an interview with Damien Landouar—Director of Château Gaby in Canon-Fronsac.
THIS WEEK’S OVERVIEW.
A garden lunch or dinner with friends or at a wine château in France is a great way to experience learning about local foods, and wines. This week’s meal accompanies a Forbes piece I wrote about Denis Dalibot, owner of Château Brande-Bergère in northern Bordeaux. Denis and I met at wine tastings in both Lausanne in Switzerland and in Paris, France. He spent decades working as a chief financial officer for various large French companies, including for the owner of Château Cheval Blanc and Château d’Yquem. I was impressed by the quality of the wine he produces at such amazing value.
1. CHEF/HOSTS.
Château Brand-Bergère prepared a lunch when I visited, which I ate in the garden with owner Denis Dalibot and his wife.
2. DISHES.
The appetizer included courgette (zucchini) gazpacho, topped with a fresh cherry tomato.
The main dish included roasted chicken from the Lande region of southwest France, fresh beans (haricots verts) and fried potatoes.
Dessert included a mix of strawberries and raspberries from the Perigord region of the Dordogne, as well as sweet wafers.
3. WINES.
We began with a 100% Cabernet Franc rosé from Château Brande-Bergère. This was light colored with beautiful and precise acidity, made more in a style from Provence than from Bordeaux.
For the main course we sampled three vintages – 2015, 2016 and 2018 of Cuvée O’Byrne from Château Brande-Bergère, each a blend of about 40% merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. These are all well crafted beauties at an incredibly low price (less than $16 a bottle).
SCENE & INSIDER ANGLES.
Luxury and taste do not have to be expensive. Seek beauty off the beaten trail, and be amazed at what a wonderful world exists just a little way away from the crowds.
This region of France near the border of Gironde, Dordogne and Charente-Maritime includes small villages worth visiting.
