Thanks for the clarifications re: Chevre d'Or. I will avoid!

Since you see expert in the area, can you recommend a place for a 2-night driving base somewhere in Provence? All that turns up generally for luxury there are Four Seasons and Villa Gallici. I've researched the hell out of both, but both have their faults, and need a tip in the right direction.

(A bit back on top) I notice a lot of times the most disappointing hotels are those that are coasting on their reputations a bit. I noticed that Chevre d'Or is ranked in the 2011 "Best Hotels" poll in both (I think) Conde Nast and Travel + Leisure, so one would assume its a top-notch experience, but personal reviews tend to contraidict these polls. I've seen other night & day reactions to aging palaces like Hotel Negresco, etc.

So now this experience makes me especailly wary of older "Classic" hotels that show up with high ratings (and high prices).