Nine Years

Don Rice

Don Rice
HuetNecrologie26Avr02NouvRep_copy.jpg
 
Having been raised most of my life on The Left Coast and a graduate of Will Rogers Junior High School in Long Beach Ca I am fairly proficient in Spanish but totally deficient in French. I would appreciate a translation into English of the article concerning Huet so I may discuss it's contents sometime in the future with SF Joe.
 
originally posted by Lou Kessler:
LanguageHaving been raised most of my life on The Left Coast and a graduate of Will Rogers Junior High School in Long Beach Ca I am fairly proficient in Spanish but totally deficient in French. I would appreciate a translation into English of the article concerning Huet so I may discuss it's contents sometime in the future with SF Joe.

Lincoln's been shot!

Well, it's not that old news, but it was announcing the death of Gaston Huet nine years ago.

One of my bigger regrets is never having met him. I really enjoy the stories of your interactions with him, though, Don.
 
We can do this together for Lou! I'll start (without Google Translate). Sharon gets a pass, if she wishes, as this is business for her:

A great figure in wine, Gaston Huet, has left us. The man called the "Pope of Vouvray" by his peers is dead at the age of 92 in Tours, during the night between Wednesday and Thursday, following a stroke.

No doubt that at his funeral, Saturday at the local church, there will be many who salute the memory of this urbane man whose entire life has been spent defending the "taffeta wines" beloved by Rabelais.

Born on April 4, 1910 to a mother from Auvergne and a father from Touraine, the young Gaston, with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Philosophy in his pocket, began studying water and forest management in 1928.
 
I did this before I saw Jeff's. A rough and ready sight translation:

Gaston Huet, an important winemaking personality, has just died. The man called by his peers “the Pope of Vouvray” passed away at the age of 92 at CHR de Tours, between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, after a stroke.

At his funeral, in the commune’s church, on Saturday, there can be no doubt that many people will hail the memory of this urbane gentleman who devoted himself to the defense of that “taffetas wine” so dear to Rabelais. Born on April 4, 1910 to a mother from the Auvergne and a father from Touraine, the young Gaston, with a degree in mathematics and philosophy, began, in 1928 studies in forestry engineering [or something like that], before he turned toward his career as a vigneron. In 1935, by chance, he was present, with his father and the mayor at that time, M. Vavasseur , at the creation of AOC Vouvray. From that time on, Gaston Huet labored for the fame of the appellation, making his Domaine du Haut Lieu a necessary stopping place for enthusiasts of great wines.

In offering him homage in 1997, Jacques Couly, from Chinon, explained, “From the beginning, M. Huet held certain convictions: ‘Quality results from traditional culture, small yields, natural treatment. The future will not be in standardization but in forming the tastes of the consumer, in his education.”

Straightforward and Kind

This involvement in every aspect of his profession quickly was augmented by an engagement in public life.

In 1947, Gaston Huet was elected mayor of Huet. He remained in that position until 1989, when he was succeeded by another specialist in the field, Daniel Allias. From 1951 to 1982 he was in the General Council of Vouvray (in 1978, he even became the Vice-President of the departmental assembly). One could find him also on the Committee for the Wines of Touraine during its growth and also in the national office of the INAO. He was among the founders of the Brotherhood of Knights of Chantepleure: its meetings, in the cellars of the Bonne Dame was for this straightforward and kind man, the occasion, in his role as Grand Master, to give wonderful welcoming speeches sprinkled with scholarly quotations.

A former prisoner of war, Gaston Huet was given numerous awards: croix de guerre, 193901945, Commander of the National Order of Merit. Others would have had their heads swollen by these recognitions. Not him. According to Jaques Coly, on such occasions, he always showed “the bearing of a gourmande, gay, attractive, tender and friendly.” And notably his notorious 47, the excellence of which the knowledgeable always alluded to with tremolos in their voices. Today, Noel Pinguet, his son-in-law engineer become winemaker out of love, carries on his tradition. But we will always miss the figure of “Gaston.”
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
I did this before I saw Jeff's. A rough and ready sight translation:

Gaston Huet, an important winemaking personality, has just died. The man called by his peers “the Pope of Vouvray” passed away at the age of 92 at CHR de Tours, between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, after a stroke.

At his funeral, in the commune’s church, on Saturday, there can be no doubt that many people will hail the memory of this urbane gentleman who devoted himself to the defense of that “taffetas wine” so dear to Rabelais. Born on April 4, 1910 to a mother from the Auvergne and a father from Touraine, the young Gaston, with a degree in mathematics and philosophy, began, in 1928 studies in forestry engineering [or something like that], before he turned toward his career as a vigneron. In 1935, by chance, he was present, with his father and the mayor at that time, M. Vavasseur , at the creation of AOC Vouvray. From that time on, Gaston Huet labored for the fame of the appellation, making his Domaine du Haut Lieu a necessary stopping place for enthusiasts of great wines.

In offering him homage in 1997, Jacques Couly, from Chinon, explained, “From the beginning, M. Huet held certain convictions: ‘Quality results from traditional culture, small yields, natural treatment. The future will not be in standardization but in forming the tastes of the consumer, in his education.”

Straightforward and Kind

This involvement in every aspect of his profession quickly was augmented by an engagement in public life.

In 1947, Gaston Huet was elected mayor of Huet. He remained in that position until 1989, when he was succeeded by another specialist in the field, Daniel Allias. From 1951 to 1982 he was in the General Council of Vouvray (in 1978, he even became the Vice-President of the departmental assembly). One could find him also on the Committee for the Wines of Touraine during its growth and also in the national office of the INAO. He was among the founders of the Brotherhood of Knights of Chantepleure: its meetings, in the cellars of the Bonne Dame was for this straightforward and kind man, the occasion, in his role as Grand Master, to give wonderful welcoming speeches sprinkled with scholarly quotations.

A former prisoner of war, Gaston Huet was given numerous awards: croix de guerre, 193901945, Commander of the National Order of Merit. Others would have had their heads swollen by these recognitions. Not him. According to Jaques Coly, on such occasions, he always showed “the bearing of a gourmande, gay, attractive, tender and friendly.” And notably his notorious 47, the excellence of which the knowledgeable always alluded to with tremolos in their voices. Today, Noel Pinguet, his son-in-law engineer become winemaker out of love, carries on his tradition. But we will always miss the figure of “Gaston.”
Thank you Jonathan I will recommend you for an honorary degree from Will Rogers Junior High for your great alacrity in answering my request. (Unlike some of the other denizens on this board)
 
Thanks for the translation. I enjoy any scrap of knowledge regarding Gaston.

Though I would suggest "notable" for notamment, with notorious actually something of an antonym.
 
originally posted by Tristan Welles:
Thanks for the translation. I enjoy any scrap of knowledge regarding Gaston.

Though I would suggest "notable" for notamment, with notorious actually something of an antonym.

Notamment is translated as "notably." "Notorious" translates "fameux." There may be a better word there, but it is not "famous."
 
It used to be, but you're right, it has slid over time.

Viz. Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française:

(1)FAMEUX, -EUSE adj. XIVe siècle. Emprunté du latin famosus, « connu, renommé », dérivé de fama, « renommée, réputation ».
1. Qui a une grande réputation ; très célèbre. Un conquérant fameux. C'est un des plus fameux écrivains de son temps. Il porte un nom fameux. Une région fameuse pour ses vins. 2. Remarquable en son genre ; d'une qualité exceptionnelle. On nous servit un vin fameux. Nous avons fait un fameux dîner. Iron. Voilà un fameux imbécile ! Ils ont fait une fameuse bêtise ! Vous avez un fameux toupet ! Fam. Fameux, votre civet ! Par euphémisme. Ce tableau n'est pas fameux. 3. Placé devant le nom. Souvent iron. Dont on a beaucoup parlé ; dont on ne parle que trop. Le fameux projet d'aménagement des vacances scolaires. Où sont-ils, vos fameux principes ?

Here, I do believe we are dealing with definition n°2. Which isn't "notorious." It's better put as: "outstanding."
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Sharon gets a pass, if she wishes, as this is business for her:

Thank ye, Jeff. As it happens, I was following silently as I finished work on a big translation job into the wee hours (or near midnight, at least). Had I had a free typing hand and a few neurons to spare, I might have been game.
 
originally posted by Sharon Bowman:
It used to be, but you're right, it has slid over time.

Viz. Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française:

(1)FAMEUX, -EUSE adj. XIVe siècle. Emprunté du latin famosus, « connu, renommé », dérivé de fama, « renommée, réputation ».
1. Qui a une grande réputation ; très célèbre. Un conquérant fameux. C'est un des plus fameux écrivains de son temps. Il porte un nom fameux. Une région fameuse pour ses vins. 2. Remarquable en son genre ; d'une qualité exceptionnelle. On nous servit un vin fameux. Nous avons fait un fameux dîner. Iron. Voilà un fameux imbécile ! Ils ont fait une fameuse bêtise ! Vous avez un fameux toupet ! Fam. Fameux, votre civet ! Par euphémisme. Ce tableau n'est pas fameux. 3. Placé devant le nom. Souvent iron. Dont on a beaucoup parlé ; dont on ne parle que trop. Le fameux projet d'aménagement des vacances scolaires. Où sont-ils, vos fameux principes ?

Here, I do believe we are dealing with definition n°2. Which isn't "notorious." It's better put as: "outstanding."

"Outstanding" may well be correct. The problem is who or what are the fameux 47. I will admit to hearing definition 3. My Robert, by the way, for their versions of 1 And 2 specifies a reputation, either good or bad. So, as a generic, "remarkable" might be better. But if any connaisseur can identify the 47, we might be able to classify them better with the word.

French really needs an OED. I love the OED.
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
The problem is who or what are the fameux 47. I will admit to hearing definition 3.

Psh! Even I have heard of those '47s. It's, like, a thing. (They're supposed to be pretty good.)

I think saying "fameux" in the sense you read it is a bit too snarky for an obituary.

French really needs an OED. I love the OED.

The Littré is pretty amusing, in a similar but completely different vein....
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
Everyone knows that '47.

Ah, of course. I hereby defer to Sharon: "outstanding." Also I note I left out the clause that made sense of the allusion: "“the bearing of a gourmande, gay, attractive, tender and friendly, like his vouvrays moelleux."
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:

French really needs an OED. I love the OED.

But then it would be an OFD, wouldn't it? Which brings to mind the question of whether a similar effort for German (putting aside Duden, as strenuous as that is) would be the ODB?

Mark Lipton
 
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