L and I were invited to share a delicious rustic French meal at M & G’s house in the weekend. Cured meats, fine cheeses to start, then a hearty cassoulet. Yum!

I raided the Pool Room and came away with a Dom. des Espiers Gigondas 2011 I rated highly from a tasting last year, and a Bridge Pa Reserve Hawkes Bay Syrah 2009. I loved both – the older Bridge Pa just shaded the Gigondas, even though the latter had the advantage of Gallic charm. BTVG 4+

M shared a fantastic Châteauneuf-du-Pape, one of the other guests brought a nice Pinot Noir, and after starting the evening with a nice glass or two of M’s home-brew beer brewed at the Occasional Brewer, I was feeling no pain by the end of the evening.

Good times with friends 🙂