On Christmas Eve we shared réveillon with Kristin and Jean-Marc Espinasse and their family.  Along with hors d’oeuvres prepared by Kristi, we first celebrated with a 1997 vintage champagne from Billecart-Salmon, the year of Jackie Espinasse’s birth (their daughter).  We then tasted the first vintage of Rouge-Bleu which will be bottled in late February or early March.  Both the Mistral and Dentelles wines will be good and  we will be carrying them both at French Country Wines. The 8-course dinner included oysters, smoked salmon, pumpkin-ginger soup (prepared by Audrey Vidal, Jean-Marc’s cousin), foie gras made by Michelle-France (Jean-Marc’s mother), sanglier - wild boar - cooked by Jean-Marc, salad, cheeses, and the many deserts prepared by Marie-Françoise (Jean-Marc’s aunt).  Of course the wines flowed, both from Rouge-Blue and from Domaine Banneret, the vineyard owned by Jean-Marc’s uncle, Jean-Claude Vidal.