WORDS:
Connor McGovern
La Grosse Cloche
IMAGE: DAVID BACHER
Here in front of me at Le Boutique Hôtel, in his crisp black and white uniform, Rémi is pouring three mystery French reds into glasses. “First,” he says, waving his hands around like a sorcerer, “you need to take in the aromas, to smell the bouquet.” He raises a glass to his nose, swirling the garnet-coloured wine and taking audible sniffs. “What do you think?” he asks, urging me to take a sip. I’m no expert; any conclusions I come to are very much aided by his encouraging nods and suggestions. But, with every sip of the heady reds I begin to taste what he’s preaching. There are hints of plum and cherry, and somewhere woodiness, blackberry, cinnamon. I quickly become just as engrossed as he is. He places the glass down and beams with pride. “C’est magnifique, non?”