After returning from Egypt for a relaxing holiday, which was extended by 4 days thanks to an angry volcano on Iceland, I was invited for a weekend in the Provence (south of France). The TGV (high speed train) took us south 900 km, in 4 hours. Very smooth trip.
The Provence itself has beautiful nature, cozy villages, friendly people, but above all great food and wine. We visited 2 domains, one in Gigondas (Du Pesquier) and one in Beaume-de-Venise/Vacqueyras (Bouletin).
The highlight of the weekend however was a diner at a 2 Michelin star restaurant in Les Baux-de Provence, called 'Oustau de Baumanière'. Great interior, incredible food, friendly staff, wonderful company, but for a wine buff like me: wine-Valhalla.
Here's some pictures of the food we got:




The wines we had during dinner (I can guarantee you that choosing wines from a huge (about 100 pages) wine list, having to pair well with the food, is daunting and exhilarating at the same time):


Champagne Belle Epoque, Perrier-Jouët, 2002

Meursault Genevrières, Louis Jadot, 1999

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Vieux Télégraphe, 1995




When asked to visit their 'cave' (wine cellar), they graciously accepted. Boy, were we in for a surprise!
They stock around 50.000 bottles, and claim to have one of the top 10 wine cellars of the world ! I took some pictures of bottles the eager sommelier showed us. We sure were drooling, as he showed us some 'big' wines too.

Château Petrus (at least 100), here the 1975s

Château d'Yquem (racks full)
(1934 on the wine-list: 5000 EUR !)

Château Latour (many too)
Image:Wine Heaven
Château d'Arche, Sauternes, 1893

Gevery-Chambertin Premier Cru, Joseph Drouhin, (old)
Image:Wine Heaven
Château Cheval Blanc, 1995
Image:Wine Heaven
Ermitage, Jean Louis Chave, 1990
Image:Wine Heaven
Château Lafite-Rothschild, 1870
Image:Wine Heaven
Château Le Pin, 1992
Image:Wine Heaven
Château Margaux, 1934
Image:Wine Heaven
Château Haut-Brion, 1928 & 1929
Image:Wine Heaven
Château Suduiraut, Sauternes, 1900


Now do you understand why we could not keep our saliva under control ;-)

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