Domaine Réthoré Davy, 2018 Update
“There’s a Rhône Valley vigneron about to plant Syrah north of Dijon”, opined the eminent wine writer. “It’s an amazing event”, he continued, “the first time Syrah has ever been planted so far north.”
I scratched my head and thought about that for a moment or two; something wasn’t quite right about it. Not immediately able to put my finger on what it was that was bothering me, I decided to let it pass. This decision stood for about five seconds, principally because that was how long it took for the eminent wine writer to repeat his latest favourite factoid.
“Quite amazing – the first time”, raising his voice a little and putting particular emphasis on these last two words, “Syrah will have moved north of Dijon”.
At this point a slightly different synaptic circuit fired, one that seemingly connected my memory of Christophe Réthoré’s wines, and my mouth.
“There’s Syrah in the Loire Valley,” I blurted out. “Christophe Réthoré of Domaine Réthoré Davy has some planted on the western edge of Anjou. The wine is pretty good.”
Sadly this did not quite produce the response I was expecting. The eminent wine writer did not slap me on the back and congratulate me on my knowledge of all things vinous and Ligérian, before inviting me back to his club to partake in a glass or two of the 1961 Petrus that he had lined up for the evening ahead. Instead he looked at me as one looks at chewing gum stuck to the sole of one’s shoe, or perhaps a first date who has just vomited in your lap. His mouth opened and closed twice, as if he were searching for a suitable riposte, but was unable to as a consequence of the sheer insolence of my comment. And so, without uttering a word, clearly disturbed at having had his view of the world order turned upside down by this new fact, he spun around on the ball of one foot, and marched off.
Sometimes, I think I should perhaps keep my knowledge to myself, and leave others to wallow in their false beliefs.
