A lesson in Degustation.
It was reminiscent of our tour of the Moët ad Chandon Last Year but at the same time nothing like it. Actually the only similarity was casks are kept cool underground!
I'd spent half an hour climbing up the slippery slopped ancient cobble track leading out the rear of the village passing the remains of an ancient Byzantine empire until I came upon what looked like a mine shaft leading right into the heart of the mountain from which I could hear grand cheer and merriment. I strained my eyes to see into the blackness and In the distance could just make out the shape of lanterns. Ducking under the bowed ceiling into a half crouch and filled with a slight trepidation I lurched my way toward 'the light at the end of the tunnel'
Inside was a very peculiar scene. I was greater by the giant head of a wild boar which nearly scared the life out of me! Beside it was rows and rows of what looked like ancient casks all lined up in varying sizes all with a tap attached to the bottom. Each naturally had an account panting spider and web.
Then there was this little stooped man who can only be described as looking like a mole but acting like a squirrel.
He had moist beady little eyes with thick set, thick rimmed glasses perched halfway along impossibly thin pointy nose and whiskers whiskers to boot! But he was animated and agitated like a squirrel, darting here and there no apparent direction until at the last minute he would pick a cask at random and pour the desired drink with no indication for what it was.
The wine was sublime a due to not being full of preservatives was complete without hangout despite sampling many and also free from the taxes by her majesties government cost less than a pint of milk for 2 litres!
In honour of my watchful guardian at the doorway I had his cousin boar for dinner (much to the approval of my host) and natural a dry and fruity red to wash it down:)