The smallest wines make the best
brandy. They yield about a fifth or sixth.
May 28, 29. From Bordeaux to Blaye, the country near the river is hilly,
chiefly in vines, some corn, some pasture: further out, are plains,
boggy and waste. The soil, in both cases, clay and grit. Some sheep
on the waste. To Etauliers, we have sometimes boggy plains, sometimes
waving grounds and sandy, always poor, generally waste, in fern and
furze, with some corn however, interspersed. To Mirambeau and St. Genis,
it is hilly, poor, and mostly waste. There are some corn and maize
however, and better trees than usual. Towards Pons, it becomes a little
red, mostly rotten stone. There are vines, corn, and maize, which is up.
At Pons we approach the Charente; the country becomes better, a blackish
mould mixed with a rotten chalky stone: a great many vines, corn, maize,
and farouche. From Lajart to Saintes and Rochefort, the soil is reddish,
its foundation a chalky rock, at about a foot depth; in vines, corn,
maize, clover, lucerne, and pasture. There are more and better trees
than I have seen in all my journey; a great many apple and cherry trees:
fine cattle and many sheep.
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