Day 8

7 October 2022

An easy start to the day as we had plenty of time to back up and clean up. The trip to Saint-Emilion is about an hour, our lunch is booked for 12.45, and we don’t have to be out of the Bordeaux flat until 11pm. Anyway, we were on the road by 10am !

There were no issues with getting out of Bordeaux, there is a great circular road that keeps you away from the city centre. It didn’t take long top get into the wine country, and when you get there every inch that is possible to cultivate is under vines.

We arrived at Saint-Emilion and secured a car park right in front of our accommodation. Given that it is such a tourist town I had visions of having to drop Kirsty and park miles away. Although we could not get into our room until 3pm, the manager, Estelle, allowed us to unpack our bags and then off we headed to explore.

At every turn there is a photo opportunity. It is no wonder this place has a UNESCO protection order. Absolutely beautiful, and the day was perfect, even a little too hot. There are steep cobble stone lined streets/allyways to the citadel, where the Cathedral is, and the tourist office. We had tried to book tours/tastings with contacts given to us on our tour of the Medoc, but everything is booked out this weekend.

At the tourist office we found out why. There is an artisan market on both Saturday and Sunday which is huge event and attracts the crowds. It is both food, wine and crafts. Luckily our accommodation is in Saint-Emilion so we can take advantage first up and then escape the crowds.

The tourism office also gave us the name of 3 wineries that are “rostered” on for tastings on Monday, so we can do some visits.

Now for lunch at Le Logis de la Cadene, a one star Michelin. It is in a lovely settling with the tables under cover on the terrace. The day was perfect for this. We enjoyed 4 courses plus 4 different maison bouche. Wonderful service, fantastic wines by the glass and coffees and petit fours. BIG lunch (big bill) but it was worth every Euro.

We finished up at about 3.30, stumbled to an outlet for baguette, pates, tomatoes, capsicum paste and tapenade, then to a bottle shop for a white wine and a whisky….ended up with a French whisky which is actually made in Scotland as a single malt, then matured in Burgundy in Oloroso and Madeira casks before being bottled and labelled: “Produce of France”. Lets call it an “Interesting” drop. I must admit to a little late arvo nap.

Not sure when and if we will eat all this, maybe at 10pm tonight if we get the urge. Still so full from lunch, and as I type it is 8pm. Back after a walk at its now 9pm, and its bread and tomatoes, that’s it.

Our room is very quaint, and seems small after having the luxury of our flat in Bordeaux. However, we will not be spending much time inside. The place has a lovely courtyard where we can picnic, and with the weather being clear, sunny and hot over the next 3 days, it will be perfect for our evening drinks and nibbles.