Arrival in Beaune, Russell fetched me at the train. yum After honeymooners taxied back down to Beaune, I knocked back 10mg of Ambien and sent screwy texts to too many people, embarrassing me off of the stuff, unless absolutely necessary. On plane, the three vials of CRB pineau d'aunis went down with the ambien. 1989 Lafarge. MORE >>

Tags: 2 stars France Bourgueil 2006 3 stars 1 star Sancerre 2005 Loire 2007 Chinon Savennieres MORE >>

Let's fast forward: TGV-ed down from Paris to Beaune with the wine importer Jenny Lefcourt. Her France-side partner Francois picked us up in a car that smelled profoundly of dog, he swore he had cleaned it. Yes, I got past the x-rays. I'm telling you, putting wine in these test tube like vials really works. arrived to Paris. Delicious. MORE >>

We had at least 5 restaurants on our eat-here list, but the only one with a table open on Saturday night, our first night in France and the eve of the Hospices de Beaune auction, was Le Gourmandin. had a glass of 2004 Jean Boillot Savigny-Les-Beaunes Les Vergelesses 1er Cru , $13, with the mushroom ravioli. Now, what to eat? MORE >>

am simply too tired to write much more now (no thanks to Air France - more on that debacle some other time), but I cannot resist posting a few pictures now. We stayed at the hotel Villa Louise ( picture below with orange leaves ) in Aloxe-Corton, a small town just north of Beaune. What a trip! And I mean small. Whoah.I Time for bed. MORE >>