A reflection on one of the few the joys of this virus - normally at this time of year towards sunset, the sky around us resembles a giant Jack Straws puzzle, with con trails in all directions. Last night - not a single one, the wisps and streaks are cirrus clouds showing a change in the weather. Lovely!
Anyway, on to that delayed appointment. We had an appointment on the 19th March with Cuma near Brion to have a couple of barrels of brown gloop turned into something rather wonderful. However, due to lockdown, that appointment had to be cancelled, but they got a dispensation to carry on distilling to the end of May. So today we dragged the two seething barrels from the cellar and John drove them to Brion. He was told to come back at 5:15pm, and has now returned with two barrels that need a good clean out, and one bonbon with 12 litres of clear and dangerous spirit. It is a mixed vintage this year - pear and peach, because that was what we had.
Now the gossip from Brion is that normally they would have 300 clients through a season, but this year they have only had 70! People still labour under the impression that preparing fruit for distilling is illicit and illegal, and can only be done if you have grandfather rights. No, people! You can prepare and have distilled the products of your gardens, using a recognised distiller, the difference is that the amount of tax you pay on the product to the Government has increased. If there is fruit this year (too early to tell for the moment), get brewing and keep those distillers in business! However you can't have apple or grape product distilled, as that would make Calvados or brandy, which are controlled products.
No idea what this is like yet - currently it will be rough as old boots, but by late Autumn it should be OK.
So today the cheque book got a workout through needing to pay the distiller and the Government. It is going to get a workout tomorrow too, as we head out not quite as far as 100km to visit our favourite producer of Bourgueil wines at Restigné before doing a socially distanced and responsible visit to Chinon. The public health France cry for alcohol is "toujours avec moderation". Good thing they can't access our cheque book!
Comments