Medoc Wine Region and Dancing in Bordeaux

Today we took a drive up the D2 road to the Medoc region of Bordeaux.  This area is famous for the pricey wines from the 1855 classification.  Most of these chateaux are closed in August for holiday or renovation, but we managed to get on a tour at chateau Kirwan.  Of course the tour was entirely in French, with me translating terribly for our group: "Grape grow.  Grape pick.  Grape become wine.  Wine crazy expensive." etc.

Wine tasting at Chateau Kirwan

The world-famous Chateau Margaux was closed for vacation, but we thought we'd take a look anyway.  The current price of +$350/bottle for the 2012 vintage is about $340 more than we are willing to pay for a bottle of wine, but just being able to visit the chateau and grounds was a nice experience, even in the rain.

Kevin at the gate to Chateau Margaux

We stopped at several other First Growth chateaux for a photo op.  If we can't afford the wines, at least we can afford to take pictures, right?

Chateau Lafite-Rothschild

Although the chateaux are closed, you can wander through the vineyards if you like.  At Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, Don picked a grape and challenged Kevin to taste it.  Challenge accepted!  A bottle here goes for about the same price as the Margaux.  Kevin figures he ate a grape worth about two dollars, but it was extremely acidic.  I guess these grapes are better suited to drinking than eating. 

We finally found something more our speed when we stopped in at the maison du vin/tourist office in Pauillac.  On Thursday evenings, they have a large (free!) tasting of various family-grown wines from the area.  While maybe not as highly-rated as the First Growths of 1855, the wines we tasted here were very nice and it was nice to be able to actually speak with the wine growers (vignerons) themselves about their product.  Of course we couldn't help but bring home a few bottles.

Yay!  Free wine tasting!

At the end of the evening, we took the tram into Bordeaux for their "Dancing sur les Quais".  They do this every year in July and August right next to the river.  Each night, dance instructors from different studios around town give free group dance lessons to anyone who is interested.  Afterwards, a DJ plays music until after midnight.  Tonight's theme was the tango, and Renee was totally in her element!