I’m visiting my friend Stephen. (he rents, by the way) 
Check out March’s Elle Décor, where his place is featured.
After shopping with SD in the medina for a T&C story, trying to see if anything is going on other than coop wine, buying all things argan and who knows what else, I'll hit the Loire, Burgundy, N. Rhone and of course Paris—where I will check out Jenny Lefcourt’s (of Jenny &Francois) Cavecafé in the 18th. (It's not her place really, just don't know how else to explain it. But she has chosen the wines and is closely connected to the place in other ways.)
I might add, the euro is really strong against the dollar. This is going to cramp my shoe style as I return to Romans for a shoe story on the day I am not visiting Bernard Faurie and Dard et Ribo.
Which brings me to Dressner’s tasting last week. Held in his office above Astor, I was rude and did the kind of thing that has earned me a scolding in the past: I speed tasted through the wines and zipped out. I think I had to rush up to a shrink appointment or some reasonable facsimile.
On that day, the wine that suited me the best at that moment, was the Domaine le Brisseau VdT La Pangée, 2005. It’s a pineau/gamay blend and cheap…..like $12 at Chambers Street (NYC). It’s rosey. It’s charming. It makes me smile. Please save me some so I can buy a case when I come back home.
le Brisseau's more ‘important’, 100% pineau d’aunis, (the grape on everyone’s must have list this year), had familial similarity to the La Pangée with more depth and bone structure.
Some old favorites of mine looked great in 2004, such as the edgy Clos de Tue-Bouef Guerrerie and the Paul Pernot & Fils Puligny Montrachet, (which I thought was pretty brilliant), all gentle and mineral with a quiet strength.
I will post at times from afar. Don't forget me. --Alice
