I found my "rolling stone" in Chateauneuf-du-Pape: the "galet roulant" stone terroir !

 

Tasting of Beaucastel's amazing 13 grape variety red wine in the Chateau (also Perrin & Fils wine tasting)

J'adore Francois Perrin, c'est un grand monsieur!

La Cuisine provencale

 

Perrin & Fils, not just 2 men, actually 6 men! Sophie did harvest with accompaniment of Francois

Lunch with the youngest winery owner Julien Barrot, Domaine La Barroche

 

Le Pont d'Avignon: Sophie says bye to Provence in Avignon!

Arrived at Tain-Hermitage and checked into hotel alongside Rhone River. Could see La Chapelle from my room window.

Had crazy night with Chris and Ariel in eating and drinking the night arrived. Had impressive Hermitage red, Tavel Rose & Muscat de Beaume de Venise.

Vineyard visits with Nicola Jaboulet and see La Chapelle at the top of Rhone mountain

 

Visit the amazing Paul Jaboulet cave with Nicolas Jaboulet

 

Had La Chapelle 2006 vintage in the cave and tasted 2008 vintage with Jacques, Jaboulet's wine maker

Had this amazing P Jaboulet Le Chevalier de Sterimberg white wine in front of La Chapelle in top of mountain while watching the sunset

 

 

Sophie enjoyed the previous La Chapelle white (only 400 btls of allocation for Asia market) and La Chapelle Red 1991 vinetage

extra gift: Jacques Selosse champagne with Christopher and "le Grec" !

 

 

Sophie arrived at Chateau La Lagune. My cosy room & kitchen in the chateau.

  

 

Learned about terroir in the vineyard with Caroline FREY (owner of Chateau La Lagune) and Patrick Moulin (memoire of chateau)

In-house chef in La Lagune made a delicious dinner for me, had the unforgettable La Lagune 2005!

   

 

 

Sophie stopped by Chateau Margaux

The to-be-opened 100-floor Park Hyatt is the highest building in Shanghai and probably in Asia. On the Oct. 1st National Day, I made a sneak preview of the hotel with my US food writer friend Crystyl Mo. So 1 wine writer plus 1 food writer, could be a good reason to enjoy this special trip!

 

View from the Park Hyatt 86th floor lobby: the neighbouring Grand Hyatt is just a little brother

   

Crystyl and I had good afternoon tea in the 86th-floor restaurant. Jean Marc, the star sommelier, didn't show up.

So we just share the pleasure of cappocino and delicious fruit tarts with sous-Chef Guerard and the stop-by GM Christopher

 

A sneak preview of the standard room in a low key luxury style (RMB 4,000 per night during National Day holiday)

   

I usually taste lots of wines during the weekend, due to private/public wine tasting events or dinner. My highest record is 75 different wines during one day in weekend. And I keep the record of 30 wines for 2 consecutive weekends. How much did I taste this weekend in Shanghai ...? Probably around 20. Here's some special wine notes I took.

Ratafia: sweet wine from Champagne Region, by Rene Geoffroy champagne house, 30 degree, pink color (like Rene Geoffroy's Rose de Saignee), 100% Pinot Noir

Altesino Brandy: Brandy from Altessino in Toscany--filled with grape fragrance, different from Hennessy or other Cognac, 42 degree, more like grappa

Malhadinha Red: the new image of Portugese wine

Neboa Mostado: Spanish sweet wine help to digest after a heavy dinner