Friday, 12 June, 2015

Today it is goodbye to our private château and our friends who work there. I tried to take a number of photos but only one turned out and it was not very good.

Justine waving and Isobel. The whole staff set were in line but I blew it as usual.
Justine waving and Isobel. The whole staff set were in line but I blew it as usual.

We head across Bordeaux to St Emilion. There was road construction that slowed us down badly for a while but we got there in under 90 minutes.

Chateau Hotel Grand Barail
Chateau Hotel Grand Barail
Our home for the next three nights
Our home for the next three nights

Grand Barrail is a large Chateau Hotel with many rooms, a Spa, a weightroom and a restaurant.

The Main Room, big and roomy and modern
The Main Room, big and roomy and modern
There is a desk in the room, there was not in the last place
There is a desk in the room, there was not in the last place
Modern Bathroom. There is a bath tub behind the door
Modern Bathroom. There is a bath tub behind the door
Never seen a shower set-up like this
Never seen a shower set-up like this
The view from the shower window
The view from the shower window

One thing I would say about this place is that the Wireless, at least in our remote room, is very slow which makes it time consuming to do the Blog.

There is a winery next door that is associated with the Chateau. Colin has organised for us to have a tour of the winery.

Entrance to the winery
Entrance to the winery
Colin and Doug leading the way
Colin and Doug leading the way
Looking back over the grapes to the Chateau
Looking back over the grapes to the Chateau

We are met by a delightful young girl who was very knowledgeable and informative. In the photo above, there are tiny grapes forming that she stated had started two days ago.

Our guide in the barrel room
Our guide in the barrel room
The Full Name of the Chateau and Winery
The Full Name of the Chateau and Winery
Pouring our tasting glasses. There were two 2009 reds shown.
Pouring our tasting glasses. There were two 2009 reds shown.
In their wine shop
In their wine shop
She showed us a very fruity Sauvignon Blanc
She showed us a very fruity Sauvignon Blanc
Looking back at the winery
Looking back at the winery

That evening we are to dine in town at a classic Bistro. We are a group of 16 and a taxi for 8 is waiting for us. He said another taxi would be back in 10 minutes. Well, 10 minutes passed more than once. Finally, the same taxi came back and picked the second group of 8 up. We go there and it is neither in the town, out amongst the vines, nor really a bistro – a large restaurant would be more to the point.

Waves from the top from some of the guys on the first load
Waves from the top from some of the guys on the first load
The Restaurant is on the first floor - wine barrels at the ground floor
The Restaurant is on the first floor – wine barrels at the ground floor
The View from the top
The View from the top
The Guys settling in. The restaurant was mostly full by the time we left.
The Guys settling in. The restaurant was mostly full by the time we left.
Appetiser of Fetta Cheese
Appetiser of Fetta Cheese

As we had not eaten since breakfast, this was very welcome. The menu had three courses and I told Colin I could not eat the first or the last. Colin organised a replacement of the first course for me.

The first course - Egg with Foie Gras
The first course – Egg with Foie Gras

This course was not very popular with some of the troops.

Main course of Pork
Main course of Pork

Again this course was not very popular wth some because the amount of fat on the pork.

Dessert
Dessert

We head back, in twwo shits again of the taxi, to the Chateau.

Every Chateau needs a helicopter
Every Chateau needs a helicopter

There was a suggestion to have a drink at the bar but we decide to have an earlier night.

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