La Celle Maison des Vins
La Celle is a village in inner Provence , about 30 km from the mediterranean sea , near Brignoles and the Nationale 7 highway , in the Var departement .
It is well known for its XII th century abbey .
It is also where the Maison des Vins of the Coteaux Varois appellation is located , next to the high end
"Hostellerie de l'Abbaye de La Celle" , a hotel with an excellent restaurant in a prestigious historic setting , and managed by the Chef Alain Ducasse .
This Maison des Vins as often in France offers a large choice of wines to be tasted free of charge , and with the opportunity to buy the bottles there at the producer's price .
Visiting the region and looking for the Coteaux Varois wines , this is where to go first , even if you can deepen your knowledge with visiting the Domaines themselves afterwards .
The list of the Domaines wines you can taste there, changes regularly , so if you return 1 or 2 weeks later , you will be offered different wines to taste .
When we dropped by , 8 domaines could be tasted , located in Barjols and Brignoles as the selection changes on a village alphabetical order . From each of these 8 domaines , you were offered to taste among their rosé , red , and occasionally white wines .
The place is very elegant , with high volumes , stone floor . Wine tasting bar with bottles displayed on one side , and adjacent rooms used to expose paintings .
The young woman sommelier who serves us knows about the different wines , and also about the domaines and their particularities .
The Maison des Vins also has a grape varieties conservatory : A vineyard where the grape varieties of the region are grown and exposed to the public .
A
music Festival is held each year on the abbey grounds , with classical music ensembles performing in july and august in the peaceful historic setting of the gardens and the vineyard conservatory .
B. first tastes some whites :
__1__ Chateau La Lieue coteaux varois white 2003 . "gourmand" she says . Lemon peel . "Vin issu de l'agriculture biologique" it says on the bottle : organic viticulture .Domaine located in Brignoles . White made with 90% Rolle and 10% Ugni Blanc . 5,6 Euro .
__2__Chateau La Margilliere coteaux varois white 2003 . Domaine also in Brignoles . 70% Rolle 30% Ugni Blanc . 7,45 Euro .
__3__I join for the reds:
Chateau La Margilliere coteaux varois red 2002 . 50% Grenache 20% Tibouren 20% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Mourvedre . 7,5 Euro .
__4__Chateau La Lieue Coteaux Varois red 2003 . 40% Syrah 40% Grenache 10% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Carignan . 13,5° . Organic viticulture . I Like this one . Will be even better in a few years . 5,5 Euro .
__5__Chateau La Lieue coteaux varois red 2002 "cuvee Batilde Philomene" . Same as the last one , jut this one spent time in casks . 6,55 Euro .
__6__Two visitors next to us help themselves with a bottle of rose they just bought , and that has been cited in "Cuisine et Vins" as a bargain : We are invited to taste too . This is a coteaux varois rose 2003 from Le Cellier de La Sainte Baume . This is a Coop located in Saint Maximin , also in the Var departement . phone : 04 94 78 03 97 . The bottle sells for a little more than 3 Euros .
it rocks
Posted by: bob | June 09, 2006 at 07:09 AM