Chateau la Coste beckoned! It has been at least two years since my last visit to the vineyard owned by Paddy McKillen, an Irishman with a love for Provence, wine and contemporary art and architecture. I made up for my lack of attendance with two lunchtime visits this summer.

This renowned Aix institution is located where else but the Cours Mirabeau with a decor largely unchanged since it was established in 1792 and which could have come straight from an Italian film set!