Le Bourru est arrivé

Le bourru,  I here you ask ??

It’s the pressed juice from the newly harvested grapes  tasted at this point to determine the quality of the new vintage.  Traditionally, it used to be tasted in the chai by the locals. Now that so many have moved away from the countryside into the towns and cities, it has become necessary to bottle this first tasting so they can still ‘assess’ the year’s harvest – can’t make an informed comment without having tasted le bourru . There is a limited amount available and the bottles must have perforated caps as the liquid is still fermenting . You can only buy it from the local co-operative and it keeps for just a few days.

ready for the picking 

a monster of a machine

The workers in the vineyards have been busy for the past two weeks picking grapes before the temperature drops too much more. We have also had a little rain, but not enough to cause any damage, not like in the Languedoc region ( around Montpelier and Nimes) where there has been extensive flooding. The word is that we have had rain and sunshine at just the right times this year in the Bordeaux region, so it should be a good vintage.

ready to share

There are lots of small boutique producers around here and the  aroma from the mountains of skins and pips left by the roadside for collection is amazing.

a small pile by the side of the road

collection point for the neighbourhood - taken from the car window so you get an idea of the size of the mountain

Because the supermarkets must clear their warehouses and make room to store last year’s vintage when it arrives , they all hold "les foires du vins" in October. This is the time to restock that cellar !

This is just one store and not part of the normal wine department ( it's still there at the back of the store), but a separate section of  around 60+  metres of wine specials.

early clementines at the marché

back to making clementine marmalade - and it goes so well with all that duck !

So, it’s mid autumn and we’ve picked the last of the fruit, made jams and pickles and covered the pool. The leaves are turning gold and red and dropping relentlessly, and we have started raking, pruning and digging over garden beds. Lots of visits to the dechetterie ahead. We still have a stock of firewood from last year as the winter was so mild, and the chillis are still ripening in the potager. Can’t understand why the french in the south west don’t use more chilli as it loves growing here.

We are just waiting for a call from our chauffagist ( heating guy) who is going to install a new boiler for the central heating, and we must organise to have the chimney swept. Then, all ready for winter.

You know it’s autumn because the local attractions are closing until spring. Our favourite spot for afternoon tea ( or a glass of wine in Graham’s case), Chateau Carbonneau , has closed the tearoom overlooking the vineyard. There are less stalls at the saturday market and less vide greniers and brocante fairs on the weekends. And the local golf course will close at the end of the month for the winter - something about doing maintenance.

It's time to get out the Le Creuset pot and start planning those casseroles - boeuf bourgogne, coq au vin, lapin au moutarde, confit de canard, and the rest. 

Chateau Carbonneau - one of our favourite places to visit

bonne semaine mes amis