VinExpo - 21-25 June 2009 – Bordeaux
Highlights: a fantastic dinner at the ultimate Bordeaux destination: Château Smith Haut Lafitte. The dining experience was MC’d by Daniel Cathiart himself, and frequented, bien sur, by all the right people: Michel Bettane, Bruno Paillar, Leon & Yann Beyer... The next night, thanks to the wonderful Richard Bampfield MW, we were the lucky recipients of the terrifically warm & generous hospitality of Luc Thienpont and Ben Kennedy at the Clos des Quatre Vents, a lovely chateau in Margaux that they are diligently (and effectively) turning around. Mme Thienpont’s homemade delicious buffet, instant friendships (like with the zippy Brigitte Bellon) and great wines, and a pot-pourri of great wines from the domaine and from guests… That’s what life should be like. They deserve much success.
60,000 world wines fighting for airspace under one roof… boy, does that place have a way of making a little boutique winery feel small and insignificant. A tiny drop in the ocean of wine…