Cotignac is a small village of around 2000 residents in the Var region of Provence about 23 miles from the town of Draguignan. It is a wonderful town to visit and can be combined with a trip to near by Entrecasteaux if you have the time.
The origins of the village date back to Roman Times but for most visitors it is the troglodyte dwellings in the face of the cliff that dominates one end of the town that they come to see. A couple of Euros enables you to visit but be warned the steps are steep and headroom is limited in places. Combined with the heat of the Provencal sun it can be quite arduous but well worth it.
The village is an excellent place to wander around. The Main Street, lined with Plane trees, has lots of cafés, bars and restaurants along with a good mix of galleries and shops. Many other street are narrow and offer some welcome shade on a hot day.
Cotignac has real charm and character. It’s busy but in a relaxed way that many villages under a hot sun are.
At the beginning of the year Simon Calder, Travel editor of The Independent newspaper, conducted a Twitter poll asking his followers if they preferred a window or aisle seat on an aircraft. The results were interesting as they produced a dead heat between the two options at 41%. The remaining 18% voting for anything but the middle. Now while you may question how the poll was conducted, a relatively small sample of around 1300, polling only over one hour, the sample probably largely made up of people particularly interested in travel, it does show that the middle seat is highly unpopular and after that there is no overriding preference.
For years my number one choice was window. I don’t think that I ever gave it much thought other than the first time I was in an aircraft I wanted to see the view from 35,000 feet. A long haul flight from the Far East made me rethink my choice. In my customary window seat all was going well except for the fact that the stranger in the aisle seat fell asleep shortly after take off, woke briefly to eat before going back to sleep and didn’t wake until we touched down some 10 hours later. I never knew an adult could sleep so deeply for so long! Getting up to walk around or visit the toilet were not possible once dinner service was over.
As a reaction to this all flights I booked subsequently I booked aisle if it was at all possible and now don’t know why it took me also long. I am rapidly becoming a convert. Having just booked long haul flights to Australia the aisle/window conundrum was a no brainer. Despite my dramatic conversion I thought I would take a brief look at the advantages/disadvantages of either choice, you never know I may change my preference again.
WINDOW – advantages
The view is unquestionably a big plus. The window seat gives you that tantalising first glimpse of your destination, the view of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge was amazing and I’ll never forget it. The view of a city after dark is also not to be missed. On the other hand this represents just a fraction of the overall time in the air, especially on long haul.
With the blind up you can get some natural light. While this may not have any physiological effect it does generally make you feel better. Just seeing blue sky after passing through the cloud layer that invariably sits over the UK is enough to make me smile.
The window seat may well be better for sleeping as you can rest against the cabin wall with the help of the pillow provided on long haul. This always assumes that you can sleep on a plane, in reality I find it difficult to do anything but doze so it doesn’t really work for me.
You tend to be undisturbed as nobody needs to get passed you. Great for watching movies, doing a little work or just trying to get some rest/sleep.
WINDOW – disadvantages
While you get the bonus of some privacy it is difficult to get out especially on a night flight when other passengers may be trying to get a few hours sleep.
You are unable to easily access the overhead locker. This tends to mean that you surround yourself with everything you could possibly need on the flight at the time you first take your seat thus reducing the precious space you have around you. Furthermore you are going to be the last out of your row when disembarking and will have to wait to access your overhead bag.
AISLE – advantages
You have loads more legroom. Not only can you stretch your legs out into the aisle itself but you also have more room because there is no curvature of the cabin wall that you get by the window.
The aisle seat makes it so much easier to get up and move around. This is more important to me on long haul, I prefer to be able to stretch my legs every couple of hours or so as it helps the circulation. The aisle also makes it much easier to get to the toilets.
You have easy access to the overhead locker at all times. If you’ve left that must read paperback in your carry on bag its no problem. Additionally its much easier to get your things together as you prepare for disembarkation.
AISLE – disadvantages
You are disturbed by others wanting to get out and move around or go to the toilet. However you can minimise this by taking an aisle seat in the middle row. There you are likely to be disturbed by only one person whereas at the side it is more likely to be two. Problem halved therefore.
For now its aisle for me but I can’t deny that there are some compelling reasons for choosing window. This perhaps why there was no preferred position in Simon Calder’s survey. As for the middle, its a non starter as I can think of no advantage whatsoever.
Some airlines now charge us to choose seating with extra legroom seats and those nearer the front generally costing more. I wonder if there will soon be a premium for aisle or window seats, leaving the middle as slightly cheaper option?
I haven’t written a wine round up for some considerable time despite enjoying some very nice wines. I have no excuse except that sometimes life and travels get in the way. I have been fortunate to try some different wines in recent weeks so it seems appropriate to officially record some of them. Despite the fact that its summer here in the UK there is no summery theme to the wines I have been drinking. The variability of our weather means while you might be drinking a light, summery rosé one day the next may see a heavier red do help deal with the wet and damp. The wines are in no particular order but all were very good and thoroughly enjoyable.
Pittnauer. Perfect Day. Burgenland. Austria. 2017. With 15 hectares of vines Pittnauer has been certified as biodynamic since 2009. Minimum intervention, wild ferments and no additions except perhaps for a little sulphur these are wines which have a purity and a true expression of terroir. Perfect Day is a blend of Chardonnay, Muscat Ottonel, Gruner Veltliner and Traminer. All are vinified and aged separately in barriques for six months prior to blending. Crisp and fresh with citrus and some peachy stone fruit, nice structure and balance.
Etna Rosso. Fondo Filaria. Nicosia. Sicily. 2016. A blend of Nerello Mascalese (80%) and Nerello Cappuccio (20%) from an organic vineyard at an altitude of 650m on the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily. The altitude gives a cooler climate producing a vibrant and fresh wine with delightful red berry fruits, cherry and warming spice. Medium bodied and with lovely balance.
Villa Barthenau. Vigna S Michele. Pinot Bianco. Hofstätter. Alto Adige. 2016. From a gentle sloping vineyard at an altitude of 450m in the Adige valley. Vigna means single vineyard and the estate has been making this particular wine since 1987. A short maceration before grapes are pressed and the juice put into large oak casks for fermentation. Maturation occurs on lees in oak for 15 months followed by 6 months ageing in bottle before release. This is a delightful wine, the nose is complex with stone fruit, citrus, almond and a hint of floral. The palate is medium with great balance and structure. A refreshing wine which is to be taken seriously. Great stuff.
Barolo Cannubi. GB Burlotto. Piemonte. 2014. Wines have been made here since the middle of the eighteenth century and wine making is very traditional. Much of the estates holdings are in the commune of Verduno but they do have around 2.5 hectares in Barolo of which 1.5 hectares are in the famous Cannubi vineyard. This is a seductive, ethereal wine with red fruit, cherry and savoury mushroom. Lovely structure and great depth with a great long finish. There is much to admire here, a truly great wine.
Verve Chardonnay. Oceans Eight. Mornington Peninsula. Victoria. 2015. Cool climate chardonnay from the Mornington Peninsula just 60 miles south of the city of Melbourne. A sublime nose of citrus with hints of tropical fruit and green apple. The palate has lovely balance and a dry marzipan finish that lasts and lasts.
Bernoota. Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon. Lake Breeze. Langhorne C reek. South Australia. 2016. Growing grapes for over 130 years and producing wine since 1987 Lake Breeze is an award winning winery about an hours drive from Adelaide. Bernoota is an Aboriginal word which means ‘camp among the gum trees’ and it was the original name for the house built on the property. This wine is a blend of Shiraz (60%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (40%) from the Follett family vineyard. It has been matures for twenty months in a mixture of French and American oak. Black fruits with a touch of cooling eucalyptus and some warming peppery spice. It is soft and round and is a lovely drink now but it is youthful and can only get better.
Chateau La Canorgue. Luberon. 2011. I don’t think I have ever had a bad bottle of this wine and it drinks very well either young or with a bit of age. Furthermore it is always such excellent value for money. The property produces red, white and rosé wines from a 35 hectare estate which is farmed organically near the Provencal town of Bonnieux. The red is a blend of Syrah, Grenache and old vine Carignan and has dark berry fruits, a gentle touch of dried herbs and lovely savouriness on the nose. The palate is medium bodied, well balanced and soft. There is a long gamey, spicey finish.
Garrigae. Domaine Ollier Taillefer. Faugères. 2014. A family owned property of 36 hectares in the appellation of Faugères in the Languedoc region of southern France. Vineyards are managed organically. I know very little about this wine, which I came across in a supermarket on a recent visit to the area, but I did enjoy it very much. The nose is wonderful with red berry fruits, dried herbs and wild flowers. The palate is medium bodied with soft red fruit and a gentle savouriness that supports but doesn’t dominate. The finish is long.
Rosso di Sera. Poggiopiano. Toscana. 2013. Nine hectares of vines owned and managed by the Bartoli family since 1993 and located just south of Florence in the Val di Pesa. This supertuscan is a blend of Sangiovese and 10% Colorino and is rich, dark and seductive. Dark cherry, chocolate and the lightest touch of mint. It is generous, with lovely balance and finish of lingering dark cherry.
Mas de Daumas Gassac. Vin de Laurence. 2011. Only made in exceptional vintages, this is only the fourth since 1997. Produced by a double fermentation, firstly with Serial grapes and then with late harvested Muscat Petit Grains. The blended wine is then aged for between 8 and 10 years in oak barrels. Sherry like with masses of sweet peach, apricot, honey and orange marmalade. The Serial gives it a lovely freshness. Complex and very drinkable .Excellent.
Classic Muscat NV. Stanton & Killeen. Rutherglen. New South Wales. Making wines for seven generations, they produce a range of wines that are well worth investigating, if like me, you enjoy this particular style of sweet wine. There are toffee, figs and raisins a plenty here but it is clean, fresh, well balanced and not at all cloying. A very long finish of dried figs with a feint touch of cinnamon.
