10 June 2013

Les Vignes Buissonnières - Words to Ponder







                                                     

Les Vignes Buissonnières 2013 - The Amazing Views!!


















Les Vignes Buissonnières 2013 - This and That



These are now the trendy party favor for the Balades.  José was our test animal and failed fabulously!!!  Luckily we had both of our sons as our chauffeurs!!

Our pouches carry our silverware, wine glass and tasting notebook.  



We were a muddy mess by the end, but SO happy and full!!

Les Vignes Bussonnières 2013 - Wine and Food!

MENU VIGNES BUISSONNIERES
EDITION 2013

Mise en bouche
La  soupe de  cèpes glacés  au  vinaigre de xérès, 
Escalope de foie gras poêle, crème légère à l’huile de truffe et coriandre.

Entrée froide
La noix de St Jacques poêlée, tartare d’asperges au gingembre
et tomates confites, fèves en vinaigrette d’agrumes,
quelques feuilles de roquette.

Entrée chaude
La raviole de queue de gambas grillée, fondant de carottes
et poireaux au piment d’Espelette, jus parfum de crustacés.

Plat chaud
La pluma  ou secretto de  Pata  Negra  Ibérique grillée,
Samoussa  de légumes du soleil et artichaut en purée,
jus léger à l’ail doux.

Fromage
Pélardon deux affinages

Dessert
Le parfait glacé à la verveine et citronnelle,
coulis de fraises fraîches, Sorbet à l’huile d’olive
et langue de chat aux olives noires.



Mise en Bouche






     


















Entrée Froide
Entrée chaude


Plat Chaud

Le Fromage
Dessert










I will sing the praises of this region of wines to the four corners of the earth!  They do cost a bit more than the wines of Languedoc Roussillon, but they are consistently rich and strong year after year.

Some of our favorites from the Balade:

Mas de Figuier, Seigneur de Leuze, 2012
Chateau de Valcyre Benezech, Maxime 2011
                                            Rosé, 2012
Mas de Farjou, Hautes Terres, 2011
Domaine de Mirabel, Le Loriot, 2012
                              Les Eclats, 2011
Domaine Chazalon, Cariclos, 2012
Domaine Clavel, Bonne Pioche, 2011
Chateau de Lancyre, Grande Cuvée, 2011
Domaine de Villeneuve, Chant des Roches, 2011
Mas de Jon, Aparté, 2009
Mas Bruguière, La Grenadière, 2010
Mas Gourdou, Joseph Onésime, 2011
Domaine de Mortiès, Pic Saint Loup, 2010
Chateau L'Euzière, Les Escarboucles, 2010
Mas de L'Oncle, Jules, 2010
                         Emy, 2012
Domaine de L'Hortus, Grande Cuvée, 2010
Domaine de Villeneuve, La Sorbière, 2009
Le Chemin de Rêves, Gueule de Loup, 2010







Les Vignes Buissonnières 2013 - The Hike!


A 6 Kilometer hike through the vines winding in the valley of Pic Saint Loup and Causse de l'Hortus while tasting the incredible wines produced from the very  vines that surround the paths while noshing on a menu created to show off the complex flavors of these wines...a perfect way to spend our Sunday!! This balade is in one of the most perfect spots on earth.  The topography, the vineyards, the roughness of the garrigue and rocky soils all come together to create a perfect ecosystem.

We were SO lucky (thanks to our companion, Christine, who could not hike on the Saturday) as Saturday's hikers were subjected to a day full of downpours and horrible weather.  Sunday gave us sunshine and breezes in the morning for our 10h30 start before the clouds began to blow in.  

These balades are not for the faint of heart.  We climbed steep hills aided by ropes added AFTER Saturday's downpour (those poor poor souls that hiked on Saturday!!!) then descended treacherous muddy paths that were being improved with cut-ins as steps as we hiked by.  You definitely work hard to get to the amazing food and wine that awaited us at each stop.

Just as  we arrived to the Plat Chaude, the heavens opened up and the torrential rain and HAIL started.  But what a wonderful stop to wait the weather out!!  The wines included an amazing 2010 Domaine de l'Hortus Grande Cuvée Rouge that elicited sighs of immense appreciation from all. As Mother Nature entertained us with a lightning show complete with deep resounding thunder, w e were able to sit and savor the incredible smokiness of a chunk of Pata Negra slow grilled to absolute perfection leaving all of us wanting to search out a purveyor for our next gourmet grilling.









 There were two bridges that were put in place just for the weekend.  They tempted us to play and jump as their elasticity gave a real bounce to your step even if you tried to walk gently.  Only three people at a time were allowed across.  








                              








                              







And the heavens opened up!!!