Have you ever met a dragon, in a wine cellar, a tank between Cinsault and another Grenache , which is manifested by small bubbles released ups?
Me, though! This morning was given an appointment at 10am. As usual, my punctuality before me and here I am at 10 pétante at the door of a modest house, wondering if Mrs. Christine Bernard , winemaker of his natural state, was at that address. This really is not common to visit a vineyard right in the suburbs of a big city, Montpellier in this case.
The door opens. I immediately entered into a new world, made of smiles, good words, passions, all led to a tense energy, precise and demanding. His laughter, and there were several, blows a free spirit, relaxes the measurement of time. Life is light, enjoy it!
Catherine likes to say it is a vineyard , located in the city, which leaves the office every morning, against the grain in his vineyards and his wine cellar. If the plots are to them, the cellar is shared with a colleague. House, cellar and vineyard are not yet met! The joys of first launch, a desire to succeed stronger than the obstacles in his path.
To get to the vines, it borrows what it calls "the boulevard of chemistry"; bodywork way, crossing the plots where only the vines are allowed to grow, boosted by the artifices of our contemporaries. Not far away, and St. Drézéry the field Puech-Haut, powerhouse of the appellation.
Catherine Grenache planted in heavy clay soil and very poor. Before the end of the year, it will come with the support of a tutor chestnut wood so they can take their place and settle firmly in the ground.
Besides, its largest parcel of grenache her recovery in the state, merges with tall grass. Basically, the mountain Pic Saint Loup exceeds the valleys. On the ground, the leaves have fallen but we do distinguish them longer, sucked into the earth that feeds on their terms. "You see, here are" my vines historical "says Catherine pointing to his plot," this is how I call them. The others, those who know only the chemistry, they are vines above ground, look, they are disoriented, they still have leaves. And when they go down, they will be immediately blown away. The land is so naked and compact that it can not retain them. They will snuggle up unnecessarily in a ditch. "
Then Catherine'm training a bit further, always talking, always laughing, a strange piece of Cinsault . It stalled on each foot, rub the wood, as the result of a work first in size and already carries on to tell me that she cut it all this branch. "You understand, shorten the branches. I spend my time cut. Leaving as much wood, they complicated the course of the sap. Sap channels are blocked there, "she said, pointing to half a vine. This winter, she will work in the revival of these old vines, sawing the wood too. It will come back here.
In the cellar, the energy of Catherine invades the space. I come here for its wines and I find myself standing on a ladder, on top of a tank, to give him my help. The wines work, inside. I enjoy for the first time, a pure extract Marselan , divine surprise the palate, a new acidity, a velvety, already, and crunch. Enjoy foot tub in the cold cellar, is never an easy exercise to which do not practice every day. But it's the same feeling of being backstage at a show or to taste the dish a chef in his kitchen. We love the intimacy and trust that time.
The meeting ended at table, family first, around a stew since morning, and then with friends, associating begging and Cinsault , modesty and delicacy. On leaving, I think back to what she said, impulsively, in the closed universe of his basement: "I am a dragon." Yes, that's like being a fairy tale, exuberant, magical powers, resulted in its history. Taste its wines is necessarily share his initiation, feel the life that bubbles in it and enjoy, all at once, the wine's flavor and exquisite happiness to take his time.
Tags: vineyard , Cinsault , Natural Table Wine , christine bernard , puech high , grenache , montpellier , vines , marselan
