© S. Peter Smith, 1997
Comments from the guests on the 1997 Bordeaux Harvest Spectacular!
Here are some classic quotes heard one mid-September evening on this year's Harvest Tour, faithfully captured by the magic pen of Ellen Landis, the self-appointed scribe of the group….
"This duck could beat the hell out of a German Shepherd!" (Ken Landis, trying to believe his duck wasn't a steak!)
"Why no name at Yquem?"
About expensive wine: " You only live once - sometimes you have to be crazy!" (Carla, Hostess at Haut-Brion)
"Sniff the bouquet in the empty glass" (Peter)
"Should I eat the skin on the cheese?"
"Don't drink it, just smell it!" (Diane and Rodney when their table was trying to describe an indescribable '76 Latour)
Ken: "Ellen, we have another large bottle (empty - darn!) for you to remember Bordeaux by"
"My children will inherit no wine after my time" (Homer Brem)
Frank: "I'm still waiting to discover a good breakfast wine!"
"A glass of Latour, a good cigar, Ahhhh ." (Chuck)
It may not surprise you to learn that I'm writing this at Chateau Beychevelle at 1 AM, after a superb dinner at the Lion d'Or.
Oh, and the wine selection tonight …
And finally to quote myself, when asked to describe the '76 Latour: "You can't describe it - you have to taste it!" Same goes for the experience we're all having right now. If you're not here, we're sorry you missed out; but there's always next time ….
And thanks again to Ellen Landis, for the prolific and inspired note-taking!
Response from May-Britt: " Do you see a sign at the White House?"
"What else can you do when it's empty?!!" (Beverly)
Response from Ken: "If there's writing on it, don't eat it!"
Ellen: "Great, Ken will carry it home!"
On the menu tonight, a simple but outstanding Medocaine meal. After an elegant lunch at Pichon Longueville catered by Cordeillan-Bages, the noisy, friendly Lion d'Or is a wonderful contrast.
Guest of honor: Denis Malbec, Cellarmaster at Latour.
If you've been on a tour, thanks for letting us share a little of France with you - if you haven't been yet, try it: we think you'll really like it - ask those who've been!