Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Page 352: "Nothing to worry about," Shanzenbach commanded. "Did I tell you I've bought on consignment ten cases of Bellett wine? Château de Crémat."


[From page 352 of the book]

"Nothing to worry about," Shanzenbach commanded. "Did I tell you I've bought on consignment ten cases of Bellett wine? Château de Crémat." He put his arm through Félix's as they walked toward the wreck. "It goes splendidly with your wife's monkfish soup I've heard so much about. It'll remind you of damp rocks. I'll have Covarelli bring a case by your house tomorrow."


"round and herby" says Elizabeth Gabay, with delicate
notes of lilac, peach, & rose




Félix knew from the looks on the faces of those three old men that a change, outside of regulation and good reason, had come over them. He decided to let it pass with the reassurance Shanzenbach gave him, and because of the close affinity he felt toward Owen and Georges. If he asked for a breathalizer test on any of them, they would've failed and then the atmosphere would've degenerated into one of embarrassment.
 
 
Baron G is a flinty, dry white of considerable complexity
made entirely from the Rolle grape.

This time I sat in the driver's seat. Revenant was next to me, and Ebert, Shanzenbach, and Owen sat in the back. I looked anxiously at the priest.
    "You don't know how to drive stick, do you?" he asked.
    I shook my head.
    "Where's that cop?" Revenant said, twisting around to the rear. "Hah! He's pulled up in back of us; the curious pain in the ass."

 


[Oenology note: the Bellett (or Bellet) vineyards were originally cultivated by the ancient Phoenician Greeks around 500 BCE.  The wine from Chateau Cremat is "the very best" (says Robert Parker), of "extremely high quality."  The whites can be made from a wide variety of grapes but the most popular variety is Rolle.  Rolle is a grape that is native to the area around Nice and is used in the production of these white wines. It's similar to Chardonnay. According to my hyperlinked references, "Bellet wines were highly appreciated by Louis XIV, and also by Thomas Jefferson."]