“The sample he shared was easily one of the finest wines I have ever tasted!”
I first met Claude in 2005, he was part of the inspection team for the Etihad Airways planes that Airbus were building in Toulouse. He would send me weekly reports on the status of the aircraft production, and we got to know each other very well as a result. During this time, Claude had acquired Chateau La Loge – a lovely chateau and vineyard in Fronton, (an area of southern France known for its incredible wine), and he started to grow grapes for red and rosé. In September of that year, we were invited to visit Chateau La Loge to taste the first rosé wine produced from said grapes. His entire family were attending as well as 50-100 people most of which were heavily involved in the airline industry. The sample he shared was easily one of the finest wines I have ever tasted! It was extremely difficult to leave after that sample but seeing as I had foolishly chosen to be the designated driver, the option was removed from me, which was probably a good thing! We did, however, purchase a case of wine before we left, so as not to insult our gracious host and my freshly stimulated palette!
Claude and I continued to work together for many years on the growing Etihad fleet. The following year I was invited to return to the chateau to sample the first of his red wines. This was far more lowkey and intimate than the grand opening. Claude had just started inviting people for private sample sessions on Saturday mornings. My wife and I were invited to such a gathering, and he welcomed us into his wine garage. For anyone who loves vino, this was a dream come true – several pallets ran along the back wall stacked with his rosé and the new red, some large oak barrels dominated the centre of the room and on it, a fresh bottle of his red sat waiting for us, with three glasses and a corkscrew fashioned from steel and a gnarled piece of petrified wood. This was true ‘garage wine’ as the French call it – quality over quantity. And his new vintage was of the highest. I mean it was like nectar. To this day I have yet to taste a smoother rouge. We drank it in, enjoying the coolness of the garage and from that point on, whenever we had an aircraft delivery in Toulouse, I would take some of the delivery team to my good friend Claude’s at the weekend. This was extended to my family when they came down to visit us, much to their delight!
In 2007, there were early defects on the 4-engine aircraft that were delivered to Abu Dhabi. As a result, an audit had to be conducted on the maintenance, engineering, and management facilities in Abu Dhabi. Part of this audit involved Claude having to check on my delivery process to make sure it was correct, his report confirmed that it was. The same could not be said however for some of the teams in Abu Dhabi and as a result, several corrective measures had to be implemented over 6 months. The issue was, that these aircraft were in perfect working order when they left Toulouse, but once in Abu Dhabi their condition swiftly deteriorated in a short period. The investigation would get to the bottom of it but if you want my two cents, it was due to lack of planning, thought and spare parts, combined with poor leadership. So, Airbus put their plan into effect to correct their part of the problem and Etihad Airways had to do the same, very quickly! This project was all monitored on a weekly conference call, to ensure that all corrective actions were being executed promptly. As a result of all this activity Claude and I found ourselves working together even more and we both discussed how much we missed the calm, serenity of his vineyard.
Over the years Claude expanded his types of wine, producing and perfecting his original rose, coupled with the matching red wine, a second red was made called grand crux that was kept in oak barrels for a year and then eventually a final red was developed, which he called Insolens, it was much lighter and best served chilled. It became very popular as a lunch wine and was sold in several wine bars and restaurants across Toulouse and Fronton. He also produced a 50-cl bottle that was very well-received across the city! With me seeing Claude often and making multiple trips to his vineyard both on my own and with family, Claude wanted to expand into the UK market, but it was met with a great deal of resistance, bureaucracy and sadly in one case, a very deceitful business practice by a private wine importer. However, due to Claude’s close relationship with me and my family, he was warmly invited to my son’s wedding where he generously donated several magnums of his finest red for each table. So, his wine reached as far as Battle, in Hastings but no further as every single drop was drunk that night, much to me and my son’s dismay!
In 2021, during the tumultuous COVID years, Claude sadly suffered from ill health. It quickly became apparent that without him the vineyard could not be run. After much discussion, Claude decided to end the legacy of Chateau La Loge, so he could focus on his health and spend more time with his family and his first passion – aviation. Some cruel twist of fate around about this time saw the neighbouring vineyard lose 83% of its grapes to an awful frost, whilst Claude managed to keep all of his intact. So, rather than see them go to waste, he sold all his grapes to his neighbour before putting the land and the Chateau itself up for sale. The vineyard still exists to this day, under new management and is making what I can only guess, and hope is exceptional wine. You can even stay at Chateau La Loge as they offer 4 guest rooms! Maybe I’ll have to book a room next time I find myself in Fronton!
I still keep in close contact with Claude and see him every chance I get when I am in Toulouse where he lives with his wife, daughter, and very large dog! I have met many fascinating, wonderful people in my long career in aviation but this gentleman really made an impact and so I felt it necessary he have his own, special mention. A lasting reminder that what matters most in any journey are the people you meet along the way!
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