Over all the years I've visited my dear friend Sylvain Fadat of Domaine d'Aupilhac, and his family, I've enjoyed a few events. In no particular order there has been his 25 years of Aupilhac back in 2014 which even Kermit Lynch attended. There was also the party in a year or two earlier that we celebrated his 50th birthday, complete with my gift of the Tour (Tower) d'Fadat which along with Bernard Bardou and the help of his wife, Desiree, we were able to collect bottles from all 25 years and build them into a tower which was unveiled before some of Sylvain's closest friends and family. There was my 50th birthday party in 2009, the wedding of all weddings to Helene Malabed in 2007 and many other great times. There's the annual Montpeyroux tasting, where the town opens its streets and wineries, and the whole region goes on display.
But one of the best events I've now been to twice is the Regalades de Montpeyroux. It's a meal to remember. The town brings in a top chef, usually from a Michelin star restaurants in the region and a top somm. Next they pair three wines with each course. But it's the group of people that come together in this tiny town, and the wines produced that make the afternoon always something to remember. This year's event is on Sunday October 21st and it's not one to miss.
Over the past two months during Winesider events at Tesse, we've opened 1999, 2006, 1998, 2002 Aupilhac Montpeyroux reds, the 1998 and 1999 Le Plos de Baumes, a side project that proved Sylvain can make Bordeaux blends in the Languedoc (the 1998s of both were incredible.) While one never knows the wines that are being poured at Regalades until they pour them, for lovers of wine who live in France, or if you'll be in the neighborhood, it's a treat not to miss….