Davidson Woods

Mark’s notes from Burgundy (9/5)
Mark submitted on Tue Dec 07 2021 22:34:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Drove to Vosne Romanee after breakfast at home. Michel Noellat - had very nice tasting led by Sophia Noellat (daughter of Michel Noellat - married to Robert Sirigue) - told us all about family and estate and life as vigneron in Burgundy - tasted long 2017 red lineup including Bourgogne red, village wines from CM, VR, and NSG (plus Fixin), 1ere Cru VR, 1ere Cru’s Suchots and Beaumonts, and Grand Cru Vougeot, plus a 2014 and 2011 Beaumonts her father opened the prior day - - the Vougeot and Beaumonts were drinking nicely - then she suggested we follow a tour guide downstairs for a quick view of the cellar
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Mark’s notes from Burgundy (9/4)
Mark submitted on Tue Dec 07 2021 22:32:43 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Drove to Vosne-Romanee after leisurely breakfast at Airbnb Michel Noellat - parked in back parking lot - walked through gates to Clos Reas and surveyed vineyards - saw green grapes hanging high on vines with red grapes below - assume they are late buds that haven’t been pruned - found out that there was miscommunication with Dan Posner and no appointment was available today - rescheduled for 9:30 tomorrow morning.
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Mark’s notes from Burgundy (9/3)
Mark submitted on Tue Dec 07 2021 22:31:26 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Breakfast at Airbnb (bread, cheese and cookies). Drove to Beaune. Louis Jadot - had tour of modern circular winery with Philibert De Vregille. Jadot appears to be investing a lot of money in modernization and quality improvement of its facilities - e.g., have begun to make their barrels - another novelty was that red wine was destemmed but white was not - we then went to tasting room where we tasted about 17 barrel samples of 2017 vintage wines - whites included one aligote from Bouzeron, a Chablis, a Pernand Vergelesses, a Beaune area white, a Meusault, a Montrachet Chassagne and a Corton Charlemagne - reds included a Santenay, a Pernand Vergelesses, two Beaunes (including Ursules (Jadot’s first vineyard), a Nuit St George, Gevrey Chambertain Petit Chapelle, a Vougeot, a Chambertain Chapelle
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Mark’s notes from Burgundy (8/30 - 9/2)
Mark submitted on Tue Dec 07 2021 22:29:40 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
8/30 Drove to Auxerre from CDG St Etienne Cathedral - parked by church and went in - very old Romanesque style church - constructed in stages beginning around 500 AD - most of Gothic structure seen today was completed in 1200s (Dark Ages) - very striking stain glass windows Tourist office - picked up book of walking tour - had lunch at Bounty restaurant - walked to walking bridge over river and looked at boats and town - followed walking trail to Abbey past old section of town with many timbered houses
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OUR FAMILY TRIP TO CHABLIS, BURGUNDY, AND THE LOIRE VALLEY OF FRANCE, 2019
Mark W. submitted on Tue Dec 07 2021 22:26:08 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
After reading Chuck’s various interesting and informative recent and previous travel blogs sharing his adventures with Anne, we are inspired to try and document our 2019 family trip to France. First off, a very special and heart felt thank you to Mark D. for all his lengthy efforts in planning this incredible travel opportunity. Anyone on this trip can add to this book so it will be updated frequently and just click read more. August 29-30 The early BirdsTravel to Burgundy
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November 3 - Red Beach tonight - Aukland on Tuesday
woodstrehl submitted on Tue Dec 07 2021 22:22:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Amazing, our 2 and 1/2 month expedition is drawing to a close. Sunday afternoon here and we are relaxing after two days on an even smaller island, Tiritiri Matangi, north of Aukland. We spent one night in the bunkhouse there with researchers, volunteers, and other tourists like us. Tiritiri is lovely and “predator free” and so hosts kiwi, takahe, and various other strange and lovely birds. In 1980 it was a desolate pasture with rats and other vermin. Today it is 80% forested and is the place most rich in native wildlife.
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30 October, 2019 - Ohakune NZ
woodstrehl submitted on Tue Dec 07 2021 22:21:35 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
If it is Wednesday, we must be on the volcano. This past week has truly been a tour with mostly two night stands across the North Island of New Zealand. All good, we landed in Auckland with the brand new downtown convention center burning down. It took days. We had arrived late and missed our visit at high tide to the world class shorebird roost at Miranda on Thames. We stopped there the next morning at low tide to find the sandpipers scattered far out in the shallows before continuing on to Rotorua with its mud pots, thermal pools, and fragrance of sulfur.
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19 October - Te Anau, New Zealand - Visit to the Southern Alps
woodstrehl submitted on Tue Dec 07 2021 22:20:41 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Australia was great but too dry. Now in the green green land of South Island, New Zealand. Pastures full of sheep and beef. Snow covered mountains to the west, glacial lakes all about. Gives one a burst of energy toward the end of a long pilgrimage. Yesterday we made the long and harrowing drive over and through the mountains to the dock on the fiord. The boat took us to the sea past mile high rocks sticking up out of the water. Wow and more wow! Saw penguins too, Fiordland Crested Penguins to be precise.
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11 October - Windang Beach, New South Wales
woodstrehl submitted on Tue Dec 07 2021 22:19:36 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
We have left the tablelands of the Canberra region. Saw the national museum and the amazing botanical gardens. Found the New Holland Honeyeater too. Our camping has gone well even if we woke up to frost on two mornings. Not having a “dingy” I have had to drive us about in the caravan. Exciting.
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7 October - Sutton, Australia - Escape from Botany Bay
woodstrehl submitted on Tue Dec 07 2021 22:18:21 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
We finished our whirlwind visit to Sydney and caught an Uber ride to the RV rental shop where I was briefed and given the keys. Keep left they say, but my problem is keeping right in the lane. Is tough but I’m getting better. Enjoyed a last day in Sydney, Miranda actually, on the shore of Botany Bay. Lovely water, today urban on the inside, but the shore is parkland.
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