Hello from Avignon, France

[Bucko]

Just finished touring the N. Rhone -- the 2003s are disappointing for me -- very hot and raisiny. If you remember, record heats hit the region. People in the region say it was the hottest in 300 years. They picked on August 15th, when they normally don`t start until several weeks later.

We start touring the CdP in the am. I hope for better wines but don't expect to find them. VT is on the list of visits tomorrow, so if their wine from 2003 is disappointing, I suspect most will be.

Cheers.

[wondersofwine]

Bonnes vacances, Buckl!

[hotwine]

Poor baby, having to suffer cooked wines. We have so much sympathy for you.... NOT! You're even catching a bounce on the exchange rate.

You should introduce WW to the people who experienced the heat 300 years ago .... they'd have a lot to talk about.

[winoweenie]

Them dudes done' know what heat be. Send 'em down here in July....I'll shoe them HEAT!!!!WW

[Bucko]

Well, I have to eat a bit of crow. The Southern Rhone was not hurt as bad as the Northern Rhone in 03. We hit a few top houses such as Beaucastle and VT. They both did a good job with the 03s. Barrel samples of 04 bode very well indeed. We visited some houses in Rastau who likewise turned out decent 03s.

Off to Provence in the am. Life is hell eating all of this French food and drinking CdP from 98 ...

[Bucko]

Well, back home ...

No more foie gras and ris du veau. Back to burgers. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Kcwhippet]

Saw your picture on that other board. Appears you enjoyed quite a bit of that foie gras.

[winoweenie]

Welcome back Monsieur Bucko. The derned laundry probably shrunk your pedal-pushers whist you were away, eh? WW

[hotwine]

Welcome back, mon-sewer. You ain't missed nuttin' 'round heah ('cept WW's typin' klassses).

[Bucko]

I enjoyed a LOT of foie gras -- diet time.

[Kcwhippet]

Eight weeks till Prosser. You can do it.