Japan, the sequel and the end

On the 9, Osaka-Tokyo by plane, flying within Japan is incredibly easy and relaxed. Even though the security measures are also thoroughly applied, it is done quickly.

We stayed 2 nights at the Conrad Hotel followed by a 10 days seminar in the Château Mercian, which started with a tasting of a few wines, a surprising Kôshu 2006 which benefited, I think, from the advise of Mr Denis Dubourdieu, and a few reds, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, including one interesting 2005 (I was told that Mr. Paul Pontalier was consultant). The theme of my little speech for Japanese winemakers was “no limits”.
On February 11-12-13 and 14, we visited a sake factory (Kobori) with friends of Léo and Caro,

We stayed in a beautiful environment with traditional baths and had astonishing meals. We met with our Japanese former interns who helped us vinify Marojallia 1999: Yukie Wako who now works for a good distributor, Stefano Kikuchi who works for Xex in Osaka and especially Yoshimuri Watanabe who owns a vineyard and produces a very good Japanese wine: Nasu Wine (rare and very expensive).

A lot of field work with Léo and caro, their distributors, a few memorable meals with their friend and the return trip to Bordeaux on KLM via Amstedam.
I still feel the effect of jetlag and already I will be leaving on Friday for London with Catherine and Laurent for a presentation of the vins Fayat during an event organized by Decanter at the Landmark Hotel.
Yesterday morning, general assembly of my company with Annie and our accountant, our auditor, our attorney Joëlle Bordy and our notaire (solicitor).
In the afternoon, tasting of the 2006 Fleur Cardinale and la Dominique. For dinner, we drank a bottle of Tertre Roteboeuf 1999 and ate a fresh truffle from Saint Alvère brought by our friend Michel Puzio from Château Croix de Labrie, a perfectly ripe truffle at the end of this season.