Yes, just turning up a vineyard track off a routeway we had wanted to link up with previous explores from the Lafare to Suzette road. Having made that link rather more quickly than expected, we ascended steeply up the hill and took ourselves round these wonderful airy terraces on the south side of the Grand Montmirail. We found shade and delight under a little group of mediterranean pines offering long views to Ventoux and beyond.
Our return was straightforward, familiar, a little dusty, back to where we had left the motor. This is delightful productive generally quiet countryside: the odd off roader and vine-tractor is all one might expect from this approach, above the Durban domaines and north of St Hilaire, above Beaumes-de-Venise etc. Different picture come the harvesting, of course. Beaumes de Venise is the wine, butting up with Gigondas to the west… quality.
Fill your lungs with that fresh and scented air!
NB: That's the postcard, that composite at the top, the text is extra, now that I can do it again back at Bullsmead Towers… and the picture below is looking downhill, even though it looks flat……
