The evening before traveling to Reims in Champagne, France we spent at the Hotel Concorde Montparnasse. The room is small but clean. I suspect that most hotel rooms in Europe are rather small.

Last night we met others members of the WSU winery tour who will travel to Champagne, Bordeaux and Burgundy. Over dinner conversations covered many topics including the itinerary (as mentioned in a previous blog we still do not know what wineries are included), other wine travels people have enjoyed, and Parker wine scores. Eight Bells Winery in Seattle, Washington had just received notice that four of their wines have been judged by Parker to be above 90 points.

Dinner included:

Appeitzer: Saumon marine et oeufs de saumon salade mixte crème d’aneth (Salmon marine and eggs of salmon miexed salad cream with dill)

Entrée: Filet de bar sauce vierge medleys de legumes (Bass fillet sauce virgin vegetable medleys)

Dessert: Crème brulé au sucre roux (Cream sugar brule

Café

Filet de bar sauce vierge medleys de legumes

A French white wine and red wine were also enjoyed. The Sauvignon Blanc 2012, a straw color, was crisp and aromatic with citrus and tropical fruits and lemon grass. Domaine Berthet Bondet, Chateau-Chalon 2011, a Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend, was a dark ruby color with notes of cassis and dark fruits. The wine also had tannins. The red wine was released too early and could benefit from further aging. The white wine; however, was a great match for the two salmon and bass.

We are looking forward to continuing on to Champagne later today.

Cheers!