+plants were our medium+ > CHATEAUX OUR REWARD< ************************** "THE SECRET LIFE OF PLANTS" >is a must read for all degruy heirs +VALENTIN VERLOIN deGRUY+ >of a life devoted to the growing +OF PRECIOUS PLANTS+ ********************** +O V E R V I E W+ >from the old european vinyards our ancestors brought a long tradition OF PLANTATION LANDED GENTRY LIFE CARRIED IN THE BLOOD. ***************************** >at lsu, tulane and sdsu a favorite >ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL< >project to give my students was to design a modern day +SUGAR PLANTATION+ ********************** >(bob patou,veteran degruy family researcher still owns a sugar >plantation at new iberia) ************************** +S Y N C H R O N I C I T Y+ >yesterday i photocopied the enlarged bordeaux region vinyard plantation map attached to my french book +BORDEAUX ET SES VINS+ >immediately afterwards i walked two blocks to our library where waiting ( SALES ROOM ) for me for two dollars was +"THE WORLD ATLAS OF WINE"+ by hugh johnson >WHICH HAS EVEN LARGER SCALE ( vintage 1970 ) >MAPS OF THE SAME REGION. ***************************** +VINYARD PLANTATION NOTES+ 1) i find the town of lalande with its vin- yards on the 1920 french map and also on the 1970 johnson map +THE TOWN OF CADILLAC ADJOINS+ (garonne r., n.e. of bordeaux) >ROOTS OF LAMOTHE CADILLAC<. (marianne and i drove through both of these towns last year >SYNCHRONICITY< >lamothe cadillac founded detroit, her birthplace) ********************** 2) as i wrote yesterday there were 10 lalande vinyards in 1920 and i have located on the 1970 map... +CHATEAU PICHON LONGEVILLE+ +COMTESS de LA LANDE+ >of the highly prized, $179 a bottle "PREMIER CRU VIN" ******************* (note: a photo of the chateau is available on the internet) **************************** +"MOUTON CADET" IS AN+ +EXELLENT AFFORDABLE WINE+ 3) >on a map of the pauillac region located north of bordeaux. >THE FAMOUS VINYARD / MUSEUM< ( highly recommended ) OF BARON PHILIPPE deROTHSCHILD is located just n. of pauillac village >CHATEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD< +BARON PHILLIPE+ ****************** 4) + CHATEAU LAMOTHE+ (cavaroc/degruy connection) >one of two listed in 1920, (the other is now a chateau hotel situated in the wooded countryside east of bordeaux where we stayed in +2 0 0 7+ THE WORKING VINYARD IS IN THE SAUTERNE REGION E. OF THE CITY (be forewarned) >sauterne is a sweet wine with the >worlds most expensive label< ***************************** +CHATEAU D' YQUEM+ ********************** >chateau d' yquem is almost a lost +MYTHOLOGICAL PLACE+ ************************ >A TRANSCENDENT CHATEAU< >several years ago i sought it out to photograph in it present form as i was fascinated by the 1920 en- (GREATLY ENLARGED) >graving in my french wine book ******************************** >DONT ASK THE COST OF A BOTTLE OF THE GOLDEN CHATEAU D' +Y Q U E M+ ************ 5) +THE CHEVALIER VISCOUNT+ (n.o. creole prototype) >during this pilgrimage we stayed at a charming chateau hotel south of bordeaux owned by a viscount (a lloyd ray persona) >who served us breakfast in his elegent dining room ************************* >DRESSED IN AN EXPENSIVE HARRIS TWEED JACKET THAT HE WORE WHILE TRIMMING HEDGES. (complete w/ tie, (after all this region was owned >earlier by england)< ******************* >LIKE THE RAY/deGRUY HOUSEHOLD BORDEAUX IS EQUAL PARTS OF (colonial gumbo) >ENGLAND AND FRANCE (with a tad of italy or $>MOORS< >spain for spice) *************** $+TROPICAL AFRICA FOR A+ +REALLY RICH MIX+ ****************** gene ray, san diego, california