The topics of this blog are Armand-Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Duke of Richelieu, and the IDEAL CITY built on his command next to his magnificent CHÂTEAU on the borders of Touraine, Anjou and Poitou, in France.

Friday, 23 February 2018

Snow

Porte de Châtellerault

a snowy garden within the walls

Porte de Chinon

Chinon castle across the Vienne river

Saturday, 3 February 2018

The Abbé Henri Proust's favourite tipple - Decanter Magazine

Top 75 'Best Buy' world wines of 2017. Domaine de La Noblaie - Pierre de Tuf 

Domaine de La Noblaie is the favourite supplier of Chinon wine to the old prelate, Henri Proust (died 1902). It makes a special Chinon - 'Pierre de Tuf' - in an open bowl gouged into the tuffeau rock of the winemaker's cellar. Surprisingly, this age old method seems to work fine, with the grape skin crust protecting the developing wine from the air's oxygen above.

"Glug Glug" to paraphase the Master of Chinon - François Rabelais...


Front cover of the magazine
January 2018