Quebec City, 2006

Quebec City, Canada, 2006

Night One, debuchery begins

This all started rather innocent,
we walked into a restaurant close to our hotel in Quebec in search for a good frogs legs fair. The wine list was the size of the King James Bible, prices out of this world, so I finally have chosen an inexpensive Burgundy for $55 without vintage. I asked the young waitress about the vintages and she had no clue. So I gave her the range and the choices. She came back in 5 mins and told me that she still has no clue, but the restaurant owner would like to take me to the cellar so I could chose. I don't have to be invited twice and so we went. I wish I haven't forgotten the camera! What I've seen in the cellar, the size of King Tut tomb, just blew me away, and I've been to great cellars before. First Growth vintages from 1937, in quantaty, pristine condition, the works!

We haven't found the bottles I put my eyes on originally in the ocean of wine, so Gilles, the owner of Aux Vieux Canons suggested 1996 F. Chauvenet Gevrey-Chambertin he generously discounted for us.

Great wine, mellowed tannins, plum pit, the wine was giving and giving to the last drop. Excellent compliment to THE BEST frogs legs I ever had in my life, Susanne enjoyed her "Salmon a-la Kiev" and all and all was a quite memorable night...only to be trumped by the evening which followed.

Night Two - playing against the house and winning!

We went back the next night, as I wanted more of 1996 F. Chauvenet Gevrey-Chambertin, only that time I have taken the camera and we were intercepted upon entry by Paul Saint-Jacques, the restaurant sommelier, who witnessed our interactions with the waitress the night before. (I had to stop her pouring and split her pour in 2 glasses, as she was pouring wine like it was Coca Cola). I asked for the owner who wasn't available, but surprisingly, Paul has remembered where we were from, and asured us that the wine we had yesterday is still available and even at the price the owner has given us. I went for rabbit in mustard sauce, Susanne had a prime rib size of an Eifel tower and after dinner we went in the cellar again, this time with Paul who just finished the book about french wine regions, appelations, history, soon to be published on CD. This time I let camera do all the talking and pics will follow after we get back.

Paul showed us the bottle of 1982 Moillard Côte de Nuits Villages and said that was the last one and the one he had before that one wasn't good. I took the bottle, put it to the light, and actually liked what I saw. Paul said the price was $75, and I have decided to take our chances on 1982 Burg for $75 Canadien bucks. Whoo-hoo, my first words when the wine touched my lips were: IT'S ALIVE!!!!!!! and it surely was and was singing songs the only fully mature Burgundy can sing.

We shared that bottle with Paul, Gilles, the restaurant owner, and I strongly recomend everybody who visit Quebec, to stop by and check the place out, it's worth it!