Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Wednesday 22 June 2016

Avoidance tactics leads to a stay in Montreuil-sur-Mer


Needing to be back in London for appointments on Tuesday 21st June we decided break our journey back from the Loire with an overnight stay in Montreuil-sur-Mer. Normally we drive from the Loire back to London in a day but as Monday was the day after this year's Le Mans 24 we were keen to avoid any heavy traffic as petrolheads made their supercharged way back to the UK.

On the recommendations of several friends, we chose to stay in the Hotel Hermitage in the centre of the town. Booking on-line secured us a double room for 79€ a night plus 10€ for secure parking – certainly a serious consideration carrying a couple of decent mountain bikes. Curiously had we booked direct over the phone the room would have been substantially more. 

For 79€ we could have no complaints – our room was spacious, the bed comfortable and the bathroom – large. 

We had a very enjoyable meal at Le Bistronome – a short walk from the Hermitage.  The choice of dishes is quite limited as is the wine list but this wasn't a problem. I failed to take photos of most of our meal but did manage the soft, juicy and powerful 2014 Plaisir d'Eulalie, AC Minervois – 30% Syrah, 40 Carignan and 30% Grenache Noir. I also managed to capture CRM's well made quenelle de chocolate – rich without being over sweet. 





Quenelle de chocolate
 

On A16 early Tuesday morning – pas terrible!


Unfortunately the drive from Montreuil towards Calais was just as foul as the drive up from the Loire the previous day had been – the summer solstice! It did, however, improve as we approached Calais.  

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