As good as Terroirs was, my favorite dining and drinking out experience in London was at La Trouvaille, a French restaurant and wine bar specializing in the wines of Southern France. The space, on a narrow street corner off Carnaby Street, totally enamored me. Co-owner Guillaume Siard was so enthusiastic about the wine he sells that his joy was infectious. Once he learned about our mission, he generously opened bottles that were not available by the glass, opining that we had to try them.

I must admit that I am sometimes scared of vino from the south of France. The heat, the alcohol levels and the lush fruit can be off-putting. If you haven’t gathered by now – I like my wines light, hence my love for champers, the Loire and other cool climate regions but since drinking at Trouvalle, I have been converted by the likes of Tir a Blanc (Grenache Blanc and Macabeo) and a Vin de Table, “Soula” 2006 both made by Le Casot des Mailloles (winemaker Alain Castex), based in the Banyuls area in Roussillon, where the vines are grown on crazy steep terraces. Once we talked about how a certain Provencal wine is the reason that Jim got into wines (it was actually a Dom Tempier Bandol), our host poured the Domaine Milan AOC Les Baux de Provence 2004 produced by winemaker, Henri Milan, who practices biodynamics and adds just a teensy bit of sulphur at bottling.

Tir a Blanc had beautiful fruit, texture, mineral and acidity with a distinct chestnut taste. While the same producer’s “Soula” (100% Grenache Noir) was tight and packed a stony mineral punch. Guillhaume said it was the kind of wine that opens up after days of uncorking. Milan’s basic Baux de Provence was a lovely little wine that tasted of place, offering herbs and a little barnyard. Jim certainly got his rocks off when he tasted it.

Besides drinking like kings, we also ate well, sharing wild mushroom tartines, charcuterie and cheese. La Trouvaille totally charmed the pants off us.