Les Clefs d’Argent

En route from Jurançon to Bergerac, there’s the sleepy, rather non-descript village of Mont-de-Marsan. No reason to stop one would think, but then there is the restaurant Les Clefs d’Argent. Here chef Christophe Dupouy, his wife Eugenie and their team have created a wine-lovers paradise. Christophe, after working in established restaurants like Ducasse and Louis XV, cooks honest, tasteful food without pretensions. Also important: extremely affordable prices for both food and wine.

Though the interior design is well looked after (perhaps add a little background music?), weather permitting the comfy terrace outside is where you want to be. It’s like eating at your mother’s place, but then with an added very friendly service. Oh, and better food of course. With good food and great service, you’re already in a lovely place. And then there’s the wine list and sommelier Romain, one of the best French sommeliers you will come across in a long time. Knowledgeable, flexible and interested in what you want instead of what he wants to sell. And you basically want the whole winelist, because, despite being extensive, everything on the list seems to be a find.

A huge list of artisanal producers, hidden gems and at prices the producers themselves will want to buy them back for. Famous names like Selosse, Rayas and DRC are represented, but also new talents from the tiny regions of France like Muscadet, Jurançon, Irouleguy and more. Not in the mood for French wine? South Africa (Sadie), Italy, Germany and Spain are all represented, and you can even find wines from Japan. For now, the wine list remains a hidden gem, but for how long will that remain? Fame for places like these will surely spread like wildfire. They deserve it.