Hostellerie de Plaisance ★★★★★

I haven't yet arrived and I am already tipsy from the sweet, spicy scents coming in through the little rental car windows as we drive through this beautiful spot in the South West of France. The mere promise of the myriad of flavours dancing on my palette, as we pass château after château and miles of rolling vineyards, has me feeling giddy. What a joy and privilege, then, to be staying right in the centre of the town of Saint Emilion, UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest area of the Bordeaux wine region. We shall be right in the heart of wine country, with la crème de la crème at our fingertips and the dazzling countryside that produces these famous grapes all around us. Furthermore we are going to stay in the gorgeously renovated and effortlessly stylish residence of the Hostellerie de Plaisance, where authentic, chic French living has been made not only a possibility but a given. Now to see whether the place lives up to all it appears to be on paper...

The afternoon sun is beginning to turn golden red and with it the town walls are glowing, gradually changing colour with the shifting light. On its steep setting amid verdant landscapes and carefully cultivated vineyards, cut out against a vast, open sky, it is a breathtaking picture to behold. We stop the car and get out for a moment in order to breathe it all in, letting the inescapable romance envelope us with the smell of spring already hanging in the evening air. By the time we reach our hotel, the pale, sandy stone has turned quite pink and we hasten inside to install ourselves quickly before we lose the light.

We are shown to our room, which mimics the rest of the hotel interiors in its fresh, elegant décor that combines sumptuous tradition with a breezy modern touch. Renowned designer, Albert Pinto's flair can be felt everywhere, from the lively dots of colour quite literally splashed on the walls to the opulent yet muted detailing in the furnishings. These include flat screen TV, writing desk and plush carpets. Then of course there are the usual mod-cons, WiFi and a deluxe array of products in the bright, ample bathroom with bathtub. Temporarily arrested by the view of the gardens from our window, I spot one of the many pieces of art around the hotel, a colourful cow belonging to the 2006 exhibition that sprung up in several cities including Paris and London, The CowParade. It fits in perfectly here! With the owner's vanguard, artistic approach to classic, luxury living, offering the best France has to offer, and this includes its superb restaurant, which under the master hand of Chef Cédric Béchade, recently won a Michelin star.

It is with the setting sun that we at last find ourselves safely settled in, sitting out on the stunning terrace, with panoramic views all around us as we make our first of many, many toasts this holiday over glistening glasses of silky, rich, ruby red nectar. To Saint Emilion, to the good life, to the food, to the wine and to our marvellous hotel that embodies all this - Santé!

* Below is the gastronomic "Proposition Concrète" tasting menu (drinks excluded) that will be prepared by Chef Cédric Béchade (please note this is a sample menu and is subject to change depending on seasonal produce):