Happy Monday...

One is obliged to dwell, given special anniversaries, upon the past. So as I have for the past 11 years, today I ruminate on a clear morning several stories above the Penobscot, looking out at a sunrise colorful but not so colorful as to warn of impending foul weather. A child had been born, and many lives changed because of it...inevitable, really, though certainly not regrettable. After all, lives must be changed when a child enters them.

I'll never forget Dr. Slate (who many of you may know) asked if I wanted to cut the cord. My face made kind of an "Eh, I'm good" squnchy-thing.

At this point he gave me the best kind of withering look from behind his angularly Euro-style glasses...and I took the scalpel and did the thing. Released the kraken as it were.

And so we have, today, a twelve-year old Nella Florence. A creature existing, as so many have and will, between the weight of adulthood and youthful glee. She's handling it well...I think. My experience with being a young lady is somewhat limited. But between adoration from family and friends, lauds from her schools, and the still highly-effective hugs she gives me, I think we did a good thing...unleashing this one on the world.

Her brother? Well...time will tell. I've got until October to ponder those qualities of his worth capturing in word form. A perpetually messy room will not be amongst them.



Current regular hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 12-4.

Please visit our website: www.bangorwineandcheese.com
Don't forget to catch Eric each Tuesday at 4:40pm on Downtown with Rich Kimball on WZON AM 620. Downtown airs weekdays from 4-6pm.
Wine Of The Week
Mas de Valériole
"Vé" Rosé

The first time I heard a reference to the Camargue was in Monty Python's infamous ode to Arthurian Legend, the Quest for the Holy Grail. As you may recall (spoiler alert?) once the Holy Hand Grenade had been tossed and the rabbit destroyed (it was no ordinary rabbit) the brave knights ventured into the cave where they learned of the Castle Aaarrrrrgggh. Not knowing what or where this castle was, the learned warrior, Sir Bedivere, played unerringly by Terry Jones, mentioned that there was the "Camargue" and then proclaimed it to be "in France, I think."

And so it is. And god is it beautiful. I only experienced a little of it, really only a drive-by, but it reminded me...in a good way, of the Meadowlands. Yeah, where Jimmy Hoffa is buried. But you know...without the veranda consisting of piles of junk, auto and train thoroughfares, old rusted-out hulks of docks and barges, and Newarkopolis in the distance, not distanced enough.

The Camargue is a massive river delta, taking the flows of the Rhone and dispersing it amongst the flat areas leading to the Mediterranean. We saw flamingos wading in the pools. Beautiful trees. Agriculture everywhere.

While much of that is devoted to cereals...grains and the like...the wines coming from here are really excellent, owing to a climate that provides ideal conditions to not only ripen well, but to lessen the need or want for chemical manipulation. The Michel family, stewards the Mas de Valériole estate since the 50's, farm completely organically, and indeed are invested not just in vines but in the cereal and rice industries so frequently seen here in the Camargue.

They make several rose wines, and this is their fresh flagship. Caladoc, a rare but increasingly noted variety joins forces with Merlot to create a wonderful aperitif or match with a nice, robust leek salad or grilled meats. Time to stock up on your summer wines...this one is a no brainer!


Mas de Valériole "Vé" Rosé
W.O.W. Price: $15.29
Bangor Wine And Cheese
86 Hammond Street,
Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 942 3338