August 3, 2004
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La dégustation du vin .
Wine tasting .
English version below the picture
Ma femme Janine qui est toujours enthousiaste dans les vignobles m ' a pris en photo dans un caveau en Bourgogne . Je parie que vous interrogez sur ce que je suis en train de faire . Je compare la couleur de deux vins de 2 années différentes : leur " robe " comme on dit en Français , intensité , reflets de couleurs quand vous mirez le vin en inclinant légèrement le verre en différents sens . Il faut donc une quantité suffisante de vin dans le verre mais pas trop cependant . C ' est le premier stade de la dégustation .
Nous étions seuls dans le caveau , tranquilles ; le vigneron était occupé avec d ' autres clients au rez - de - chaussée .
Après cela vous avez à sentir l ' odeur du vin en le faisant tourner dans votre verre . Vous appréciez ou non son parfum appelé " bouquet du vin " . Inutile de dire que c ' était parfait mais différent d ' un vin à l ' autre .
Pour terminer vous mettez le vin dans votre bouche et vous en tapissez toutes vos muqueuses et papilles pour apprécier le goût . Il y a beaucoup de mots pour décrire le goût mais c ' est une appréciation personnelle . Vous n ' êtes pas forcé d ' avaler le vin et vous pouvez le cracher dans un crachoir .pour ne pas devenir ivre . Mais comment cracher un si divin nectar ?
Mon problème était que je n ' ai que deux mains et que j ' avais à comparer 3 vins . Voyez les 3 bouteilles sur le baril , à droite . J ' eus à recommencer le rituel pour arriver à comparer les 3 vins .
Finalement je me sentais léger , heureux , en extase . Comme je m ' étais dévoué pour déguster c ' est Janine qui conduisit pour rentrer . Elle avait bu un tout petit peu et elle aime conduire !!!
In a cellar in Burgundy ( France ) Photo taken by Janine Fauquet 2004
My wife Janine who always is enthusiast in the vineyards took a photo of me in a cellar in Burgundy ( France ) . I bet you ask yourself what I am doing . I compare the color of 2 wines from 2 different years : their " robe " as it is said in French , intensity , play of colors when you look at the wine at the light in slanting slightly the glass in various directions . So you have to put a sufficient quantity of wine in your glass ( not too much , of course ) . This is the first step of the tasting ..
We were alone in the cellar , quiet , because the vinegrower was at the groundfloor with other customers .
Afterwards you have to smell the fragrance of the wine in making it turn in your glass . You have to appreciate or not its perfume called " bouquet du vin " in French . Useles to say it was perfect but different from a wine to the other .
To end you put the wine into your mooth and you cover all of you mucous and taste buds to appreciate the taste . Here , there are many words to describe the taste but you have to get your own opinion . You are not forced to swallow the wine and you may throw it from your mooth in a basin in order not to become drunk . But how not to swallow such a divine nectar ?
My problem was I have only 2 hands and I had to compare three wines . You see the 3 bottles on the barrel on the right . I had to start again the ritual to succeed to compare the 3 wines .
I felt light , happy , ecstatic . As I have been devoted for the entire tasting , it ' s Janine who drove the car to go back . She likes driving and she had tasting so little !!
Comments (96)
Il n'est pas donné à tout le monde d'être connaisseur en vin. Ma soeur a pris un cours chez un caviste, mais j'étais trop jeune. Un jour peut-être. J'adore les termes sensuels utilisés pour décrire un vin. Prudence au volant.
Avec toute mon amitié.
Clara
you are a true wine connoisseur.
Mon amour et j'aimerais obtenir dans goûter de vin. Ceci était, ainsi, me m'intéressant.
J'ai écrit de la colère pour me rappeler, et n'importe qui qui peut avoir besoin de rappeler, qui fâche est le mieux analysé plus tôt que plus tard éviter la douleur inutile.
Tout est bien dans mon monde, mon bon ami.
Mes allergies m'empêchent de boire du vin, ce qui est plutôt malheureux étant donné mon voyage en Italie qui approche.
cheers~!
How wonderful--I have always loved wine, and have recently taken a class (taught by a Frenchman, of course!) about wine so that I could develop a finer palate and learn the vocabulary of wine--words like "foxy" or "green" or "fat". It was a wonderful class.
I am glad you enjoyed your time, and that your wife could drive!
That looks like so much fun! Some day I want to eat and drink my way across the world!
I have only had wine once and I found out that I was allergic to it
I have always wanted to sit and enjoy a lovely glass of wine but cannot - I am glad you can enjoy it much!! 
a scam is when somebody tries to trick you into doing something or cheat you. i didnt really take off my clothes - it was a joke
Hello!!!
Merci pour tes mots. One day I would love to do some wine tasting in France. I bet you could teach me many things about wine. Red is my favourite. I'm glad you are back.
Voilà deux links qui expliquent ce qu'est un Hokie (C'est le nom adopté par mon ami Jon, deathbyhokie.) VA Tech. What is a Hokie. (C'est une dinde, emblème de l'équipe.)
i have just recently started reading up about wine and will soon attend wine tasting classes. i hope to become as cultured as you one day!
I love wine. Mostly white or blush wine. I love dessert wine witn my Creme brule. I cannot drink red wine, it gives me a headache.
Je ne suis pas une 'wine lover' mais reading ta blog is comme visiting an old ami. I've missed French more than I realized...
Merci!
That's so interesting.....and such an interesting picture (tell your wife--great job!). This blog goes so well with a book I'm currently reading, called Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris, who is half French and half British.
I'm afraid I'm too young to drink wine, but I love reading your stories about it!
Poor Janine having to do the driving . Until recently I have not been found of red wine but I have started to drink it now . I have to say that we drink more Chilean , Australia wines than France . I remember the price of wine is so much cheaper than here as we used to come back with quite a few bottles in our suitcase
Its a lovely photo of you comparing the wine
i went wine tasting not too long ago. it was enjoyable. of course, i did not spit it out (at least the good ones). so then, what do you prefer? i love shiraz... did you ever try malbec (sp?)? ~j
You would love to visit South Australia the bAROSSA VALLEY quite near us,AS IT CONTAINS SO MANY WINERIES .MANY OF THEM STARTED BY EMIGRANTS FROM EUROPE. ONCE WHEN i DRANK MANY YEARS AGO AND THE ROADS WERE NOT DANGEROUS, OUR sUNDAYS WERE SPENT DOING THE ROUNDS OF THE WINERIES .FIRSTLY ONE HAD TO BUY 12 BOTTLES. SO A COUPLE WHO WENT WITH US USED TO SHARE THEM ,LATER THEY LET YOU BUY AS LITTLE AS YOU WISH. wE ALWYS TOOK OUR OVER seas visitors there , as one place to take them. I haven't been for years but I never have liked wine very much , prefering spirits and things like Drambuie and other mixes. Now i only drink Lemonade, Water,apart from tea and coffee but I would still visit the wineries if I was able. I received you second card yesterday , what a quaint looking place ,looks almost like a model village .I had taken the other one in for Matt to see as he had a board in the other nursing home and it was pinned on there I expect he has them in a drawer now.So thank you so much I am getting quite a collection of card from all over as i keep them. Still if I decide to go 9into a nursing home complex I will have to get rid of a lot ,although you can take quite a bit into this one .I am trying to see if I can get matt's wardrobe into his room as the one there is very stiff and a bit ancient. I should imagine they would like certain donations. You look quite the ? can't spell the word i want without going to the dictionary but it starts conisur well it sounds like that. i am getting warm, will have to turn the heater down it is blowing down my neck Ha Ha.Love Marjie
ahhhh so that is how you test wine, just don't down the bottle.....
That is very astounding to me. I have known about the swishing of the wine in the glass, but never of the consistency in the light. That is new information. I have enjoyed this blog, because I have learned something new. I find winetasting an art. I look forward to participating in winetasting one day.
Thank you for your kind words on my last post. They mean the world to me. You are a wonderful man, Michel. I wish you the best in life. Have a great week! God bless.
this surely sounds wonderful. I've traveled through New York's Finger Lakes and once through the Sonoma Valley in California, but ah, to taste French wines en France...
My mother loves wine tasting. She goes all over the country to taste different wines. My brother-in-law's step father owns a vineyard in California...we've been many times. It's a wonderful experience, even for those who don't drink. Something so peaceful about it. Friends, family, laughter, and plenty to drink!!!
Nina
what a pleasant and lovely vacation, the way you describe it makes it seem I am there too..
I have been wine tasting in Napa Valley in California .. i am sure the experince in France is similar and yet different. i need to do it some time. I think you and Janine make a very good couple ...:)!
Cheers!
Michel, Bacchus des temps modernes !
Belles histoires !
A votre bonne santé
Amitiés
yay! u r back!!! i'm on holiday now.. but will get back to xanga soon!!!
Quelle bonne explication! Je pouvais presque sentir le vin en lisant votre petite histoire. Merci pour nous donner une vision de ce moment.
mmm red wine - my favourites are Australian, Chilean and South African. I have never tried French red wine. What would you recommend Michel?
a connieseur! your joy over the tasting is obvious!
namaste sir
i don't drink so i wouldn't know how wine taste like. haha..
We enjoyed visiting vinyards and tasting wines when we were in California and we often stop and try local wines when we travel. I don't spit them out, either!
You are very fortunate to have so many fine wines in France. They are such a joy to have with meals.
Bonne rentrée a vous, Michel! Je suis heureux d'apprendre que vous avez passé de bonne vacances.
Re: merci du commentaire mais la rédaction n'est pas la mienne, hehe. C'est celle d'un écolier - vraisemblablement asiatique et en primaire. Quant aux entrées sans option de commentaire, c'est du à leur caractere temporaire.
A propos, êtes-vous sur que ce ne sont pas les bouteilles vides de l'autre côte du tonneau, qui sont plus nombreuses, que vous avez dégusté? (kidding)
I think I will get Julie to arrange a wine-tasting holiday in France next year, I'm sure that John and I would enjoy that
I usually havea glass of wine with my dinner, not French but from the New World or Australia. ( hangs head in shame 
) 
Marie
J'apprécie les instructions au sujet de comment on doit faire la dégustation du vin... j'aimerais bien être un sommelier, mais, je ne sais pas comment on peut apprendre ce métier.
J'ai assisté une dégustation seulement une fois, à Beaune, dans le Marché Aux Vins... il y avait dix-huit vins... je ne pouvais pas cracher, parce que tout les vins était si bien, donc je suis parti de l'endroit un peu ivre...
mike
I was so interested in wine at one point in my life..i borrowed a book: Wine Tasting for Dummies! LOL and read up all bout this...itz such a fine art!
Too bad..i think drinking wine is an acquired taste..and for some reason..i've never been able to take up the art..cuz wine just tastes bitter to me no matter what?=(
You look like a pro tho! *winkz*
J'adore ces anciennes caves au vin....
I don't know the first thing about wine. Why didn't you hold the 3rd bottle in your toes?
=O i love french! xDD my bf's french ;]
Bonjour Michel! Tu es vraiment un expert sur le vin. Moi, je suis allergique aux vins, mais j'ai récemment découvert un vin bio que je trouve très bon et que je ne suis pas allergique. Il vient du Chile.
C'est bien que tu et Janine pouvez partager le travail : toi que fait la dégustation et elle qui conduit. Alors, avez-vous acheté beaucoup de bouteilles? Santé à vous!
Our grapes are ripe but I think I won't make homemade wine this year. We seldom drink it. It isn't the good wine like you have. It's just fun to make every few years. Janine takes very good photos.
Michel! I am very excited to see that you are updating again! It looks as if you had a fabulous time sampling wines with your wife, and I'm glad you got to have that opportunity..someday I would like to visit a vineyard in France, as I know France has some of the best wine in the world
In my latest Xanga entry, I have included some sentences in French for you in italics with * next to them. I hope my French is not too rough and you can understand them!
<3
The French had transformed wine making in a art.
More countries are trying to follow and that is really a good thing. It is pity the top wines are not cheap.
To compare three wines with two hands is not easy, you could have asked Jeanine to borrow you a hand to look at all three in the same time.
By the way ,are they reds or whites? I think the white burgundies are the best of the world.
Bien à toi
Carlo
Carlo is always teaching me about wines. In the states, the people can't tell a Burgandy from a Bordeaux! Poor me. I'd love to visit a vineyard.
Portia is right - the Barossa wines are lovely - especially the reds. You have some very smooth red wines in France - very drinkable - TOO drinkable!!!. I enjoyed tasting the local wines throughout Europe - and much to our surprise, a few restaurants sold NZ wines too. Hoping your week is going well there
Many moons ago I took a "course" in wine tasting. Your writing has brought back a lovely memory and made me smile. It seems you had a wonderful time. This is nice...Huggs...Sassy
I would have had to bring someone else along. My husband and I both like the wine tasting.
What did you decide on?
Oh I love the castles as one who grow up with princess storys and the wine tasteing I have always wish i could go do that and through you my friend I have come close I bet you and your wife had a wonderful and romanic time God Bless.
Love and Hugs
We have wine tasted in the famous Napa area of California but have found that this Monterey Peninsula has many wineries also. We set out one day to do some tastings but had to stop and eat early as the tastings were too wonderful and our heads were reeling a bit
If I drank, I might like to do some winetasting sometime.
It is interesting that here in California where many types of wine grapes are grown, and some excellent wines are produced, some vineyards are calling their wine cellars "caves." I think they do not understand the French so well. Perhaps they are trying to impress their customers with their style!
Carol
A most excellent adventure! Good thing that your
lovely wife enjoys driving more than tasteing!
Glad you're back!
looks like a cool celar
Thank you for the comment on my site. I've read your posts about your childhood during the war, but I can only begin to imagine Algerie. I find it interesting that before the US invasion of Iraq those at the Pentagon watched "The Battle of Algiers" because to real soldiers it all fit. The White House wanted them to stop, because "it would be confusing."
Peace to you and your memories, my friend.
Yummy!! I love red wine, I mean I REALLY love it and I just can't imagine not swallowing! To me it's part of the total experience of wine tasting. I am a believer in getting someone else to drive too though! You'll have to teach me one day about wines - other than thinking it tastes really good I don't know much!
it's true he said 'i like you' michel. but that's how relationships starts right?
Ohhh I love wine tasting, Michel.
We'll be doing this on our holiday towards the end of September. I can see that if we ever visited you, we would have quite a bit of fun drinking some of your beautiful French wines! 
Another very interesting blog Michel.
I love wine but don't know much about it. Like your wife, I need to be the one to drive.
The perfect Frenchman! You are certainly studying those wines & arriving at a decision must have been enjoyable.
wow! thanks for the lesson. I always learn something interesting when i visit here!
You remind me of my visit to a wine cellar when I was in France
I need to learn how to appreciate the differences in wine better. But I don't drink so much because my face turns red too easily! They say it's a sign of good circulation though.
Thanks for your comment on my Galena blog. I never really enjoyed studying history in school, but I love visiting historic sites. A much better way to learn, I think!
It appears that you are having a great time. Wish I could have tasted some of that delicious wine.
I used to like an occasional one with dinner, but have not drank any in years-after having a bad reaction to it.
I think it did not agree with the medication I was taking.
Glad Janine was willing to drive home. If she was not with you, you would have to learn how to spit.
Have a great weekend!!!
Love
Edie Rose
i quit drinking recently and i do miss wine. i really enjoyed wine. living in california, we have so many terrific wines andn vineyards. our county here (el dorado) has amazing vineyards, our zin grapes are suppose to be some of the finest. i appreciate your photos and description, it kind of makes up for something i really wont do any more.
Being able to enjoy, with such a richness of expression, one moment in time, is truly living. Infinite Blessings
Taste of Spirits. You've made my day. Thank you
That picture of you in the wine cellar reminds me of The Cask of Amontillado by Poe. Take Care.
--Heather
I have never gone wine tasting. I prefer whites to red. It is truly an art, wine drinking!
Sounds like a wonderful time you had.
Wonderful entry. One of my uncles is a winemaker out here...Willamette Valley Vineyards. They often have visitors from Europe and many of his wines have won international awards. Let me know if you want a tour, huh?
I just brought back a bottle of key-lime wine from the Florida keys to give as a Christmas present. It tastes much like a Margarita drink.
Dear Michel,
I admire your joie de vivre and your sophisticated life-style!
I am late in thanking you for the lovely postcard that you sent to me and to my wife Margie. Thank you! I placed it on the wall of my new law office and I tell my visitors that my kind friend in France sent it to me.
Au revoir!
Michael (Hubbard)
What an enjoyable day you and your wife had. Wine tasting is such fun and you learn so much. We have a few vinyards here in Virginia. It is nice to visit them.
Rosemary
ah! now that's how I would like to spend a vacation
Ah hello my friend! I am not a wine drinker, in fact I rarely drink any spirits at all. But it sounds like a very neat and interesting experience. I thank you so much for sharing. Coming to your site is one of the ways I learn so many new things. I thank you sooo much for sharing! ! ! ! Have a great day and a wonderful tomorrow ! ! ! Much love and many hugs! ! ! ! Sleep with the angels and wake up fully rested and ready for a new day ! ! !!
My fav red wine is Valpolicella....I'm sure you know it well! Perhaps you can tell me who the best winemaker is for this type of wine! Really a pleasure to find your site!
well now -- I feel positively gauche to not enjoy the taste of wine. You certainly sound and look like you know of what you speak.
This wine tasting is indeed a true art. I never realized there were so many steps of precision. I'm glad you enjoyed the experience and hopefully you didn't get too drunk!
That is interesting you have seen the Orient Express. Must have been fascinating to witness!
Have a wonderful day, Michel, and I'll talk to you again soon!
Looks like a wonderful time, my friend! Perhaps one day, we'll go wine tasting.
DG
Alors? lequel des 3 vins etait le meilleur?
- Nana -
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-BOOOOYA!
Quel vin aimez-vous le plus?
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Good Morning and Happy Monday!
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Hi fauquet. Welcome to ThePOC. You know, I just cruised over to your site and I found a great quote on your header.
"All beings and things are interesting" -fauquet.
It resembles the very foundational words of TheGreatCarpet itself,
"Everyone has something to say and Everyone has something to Contribute in this world" -BOOOOYA!
We would make Great friends one day. It's too bad there is a language barrier between us, I take it That's why reading this blog is too difficult for you. But if you ever feel like practssing your englich, please know that you are Always Welcome here.
-BOOOOYA!
Answer to monstermarlo and baka_kogaru : The wine I have prefered was the Burgundy of the 1996 vintage . But I love too the Bordeaux .
Je viens juste d'appercevoir votre sobriquet sur le site de BOOOYA. Bienvenue!
Je suis francophone aussi, come vous pouvez voire, mais c'est Canadienne-francophone. Je n'ai presque jamais la chance de discuter en Francais, et je commence a douter mes mots
Je suis certaine que c'est un dialogue completement different de la votre, mais je te comprends parfaitment. J'envie votre passe-temps, j'aimerais tellement visiter france une journee pour une tournee d'un vignoble!
lol Michel wish i had been there hee hee!
What a wonderful adventure! It must have been very enjoyable. I have only been to a wine tasting once and it was in the state of Washington.
Lovely! Thank you so much. I love reading your posts in French aloud and then in English. You are helping me to regain what little ability I had to read and speak French in high school.
Merci de m'avoir ajoutee comme subscription! Je ferai la meme
Continue avec les postes interessantes! Les miennes devrait commencer a se derouler bientot, car mes noces seront le 25 Septembre
I love wine. That sounds like fun, Michel!
how come wines are kept in cellars? Does it do something to help them age? Or something to do with their flavoring? I don't know much about wines. I don't like the red ones, but I like the white ones. I think they are called rieslings? Or something like that.
How is your garden?
Oh my, I thought I had commented on this blog. i found the picture so delightful, I copied itto my documents, and forgot to tell you how delightful the blog is. So, I'm doing it now.
Yes, I watched a little of the olympics. Do you watch it?
Vacations are wonderful but never last long enough. I love wine but can only have two glasses as I am a lightweight when it comes to drinking (I have no tolerance)
The pictures are wonderful as usual.
How very nice! We've been wine tasting all over the US but I would think France would be best. The only place they charged was in California in the Mondavi vinyard.
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