I did feel something of traitor as I bought a bottle of Champagne for Jane yesterday afternoon as a partial recompense for her continuing generosity in extending me the courtesy of “my room” in her house in Sitges thus enabling me to enjoy our wine tastings without having to rush away on the last train back to Castelldefels at the ungodly hour of 9.30 pm!

To placate my troubled conscience I also bought a bottle of Gran Reserva Cava which we could drink at once and then the Champagne could with some degree of rectitude be kept for Jane’s private delectation!

The meal we had of poached salmon (cooked in the dishwasher in the absence of a fish kettle) with dill mayonnaise and pasta with pesto was excellent and complemented the wines admirably – when we finally got round to eating something rather than drinking in isolation!

All the wines in our tasting were from the Languedoc – Roussillon region .

1 Gamin Larredya 2006 Appéllation Jurançon See Controllé. Appearance crystal clear with a deep golden, almost tawny colour. Aroma vaguely medicinal and sickly with a slight suggestion of stain remover. The taste filled the mouth and it felt like a fortified wine. Excellent after taste, slight citrus. Developed well with excellent construction. More complex than I expected.

2 Domaine de la Garance 2007 Vin de Pays de l’Herault. Darkish colour not as clear as 1. A meaty aroma. Slight suggestion of hydrogen sulphide with overtones of liquorish. Sharp. Excellent body with a rounded memory of sweetness.

3 Domaine de la Rectorie 2008 Appéllation Collioure Controllée. Light, clear and clean. Taste of apple, raisin and cheap sweets. Sits well in the mouth. Delicious. Lacks the character of the first two wines, but it is eminently drinkable.

4 Domaine Gauby 2007 Vielles Vignes, Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes. Good colour. Aroma of cake mixture. Slight pettilance. Almost a metallic taste. Unstructured and confusing.

5 Domaine Seguela 2007 Blanc d’Alesix, Vin de Table. Whisky colour with a nose-clearing aroma. Slight overtones of caramel. Spicy taste. After eating the pasta the taste was clean, clear and gave a hit to the back of the throat!


The key is obviously to eat and drink!

Today has been spent mainly on the Third Floor enjoying the continuing weather and worrying about rogue clouds which threaten the rays.

This evening the sun began to set swathed in mists. I assume that they were sea mists, but it is still the first time that I have noticed them. The sun was still able to shine through so I was able to admire the delicacy of the softening of the outlines rather than resent the diminution of my vitamin D intake!

This evening is more relaxed than a normal Sunday as tomorrow is a fiesta.

Hooray!