Charbonniere

Mme Maret was, as ever, determined to put the world to rights. Subjects discussed were. Czech and Polish lorry drivers (and a lack of Polish plumbers because they`ve all become lorry drivers); the EU (the amount of construction going on in Spain, Portugal and Ireland); Margaret Thatcher; the importance of English. Good job the wines speak for themselves or they wouldn`t get a word in edgeways. Michel Maret appears very shy and tries to thrust his daughter forwards for the photographs; perhaps it is just that he has learned that, naturally, women are in charge. Michel knows his place and fortunately for us it is in the cellar nurturing his fabulous wines. La Mourre Perdrix lives on for the time being, but new regulations mean that 2005 may be the last in my vertical.(CW) The joy of Michel Maret`s wines is their reflection of the man`s personality. They are not blockbusters, but they quietly assert the high quality of both fruit and cellar work. The wines are harmonious and full, yet restrained and elegant and although several cuvees are produced, none seems to suffer from this. (CW19/03/2008)