Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
THE King toasted his successful state visit to France with glasses of wine and a few whiskies yesterday.
One Grand Cru Classe red was from 2005, the year he and Queen Camilla were married.
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He nodded his approval after sipping and said: “It’s very good.”
Florence Cathiard, who owns the Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte vineyard with husband Daniel, presented the couple with a bottle on their visit to Bordeaux.
The final day of the three-day tour kicked off as Charles and Camilla were welcomed to the city’s town hall.
Then His Majesty wore a pair of sunglasses and held wife Camilla’s hand as they were piped aboard the Royal Navy frigate HMS Iron Duke for a drinks reception followed by a fly-past.
After catching a tram to Place de la Bourse, the King was persuaded to have a nip of whisky — made from his own barley — as he went round the stalls.
He then went into another tent where he tried some organically-made red wine.
Spotting another whisky, he said: “I know Old Pulteney — that’s very good.”
A few minutes later, the King tried a glass of St Ferdinand Source Lussac-Saint Emilion wine and took away some cheese.
His Majesty also listened to the harrowing details of the forest fires that devastated much of Bordeaux’s woodlands last year.
Shaking his head, the environmentally-aware King asked: “How much of the devastation was caused by us?”