{"id":3427,"date":"2023-05-10T18:26:14","date_gmt":"2023-05-10T17:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jecsofa.fr\/?page_id=3427"},"modified":"2023-05-10T18:26:14","modified_gmt":"2023-05-10T17:26:14","slug":"may-2023-mai-medoc-trip","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/jecsofa.fr\/?page_id=3427","title":{"rendered":"May 2023 mai – Medoc Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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JECSOF\/A Report for May<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What a start to May! A two day trip to the Medoc region of France including visits to major wine producers and including tastings of some of their fine offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We started with a leisurely early breakfast at Ch\u00e2teau d’Agassac only marred by the late arrival of Chris and Carol due to a starting problem with their I Pace. Fortunately however they arrived in time for the tour and the wine tasting. Breakfast was followed by a private tour of the Ch\u00e2teau which dates from the 13th century and some photographs of the ch\u00e2teau can be viewed on this website. Then it was off to the vineyards, an interesting fact being the difference in soils between one plot of vines and an adjacent one both suited to different grape varieties. We then moved inside to see the fermenting and wine ageing stores followed by wine tasting in the converted Dove cot. A magnificent ch\u00e2teau and well wort a visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was then off on the Route des Ch\u00e2teaux following a comprehensive route plan prepared by Regis di Giulio, the packs including full maps of our outing and details of the properties we were to visit. The next stop was the Ch\u00e2teau Margaux for a photo shoot outside the gates. After the photo shoot it was again the turn of the I Pace to misbehave and we had to leave Chris and Carol to tend to their vehicle, not an easy task being in a UK car with UK breakdown cover! However the staff at Ch\u00e2teau Margaux could not have been more friendly unfortunately not extending as far as a free wine tasting. There was a welcome cup of coffee however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next stop in Pauillac at the Ch\u00e2teau Hautes-Bages Liberal for a cellar tour and tasting of three of their wines. The owners of the vineyard are continuing development of their property as an organic vineyard with encouragement to biodiversity. A drive in the sun again to Quai Leon Perrier for a pleasant lunch at La Salamandre overlooking the Gironde estuary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The remainder of the afternoon was a drive north west to the Atlantic coast at Soulac, stopping to admire the scenery. Then after a short drive, a visit to Chateau Loudenne for a further tour and wine tasting before yet another stop to visit the Phare de Richard (Lighthouse) where some of us still had some post lunch \/ tasting energy to climb the steep steps to the viewing gallery at the top. We completed our day at Hotel des Pins and a well deserved dinner and of course further sampling of the regions products. After a stressful day Chris and Carol were able to join us at the hotel in a hire car after having the I Pace dispatched to a garage (eventually). We wish them all the best in getting the car repaired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An early departure on the Saturday for a trip down the Atlantic coast through dramatic forest scenery on wide and relatively quiet roads passing occasionally through holiday sites and villages. A coffee stop at Hourtin beach was most welcome, the coffee shop appearing just to be opening up for their summer season. The club bought the coffees as there was a quorum of committee members to authorise (and John Sharp our treasurer was not around !) Hope this is OK John.!!! Due to some road closure signs we had to deviate from Regis planned route finding ourselves on a narrow road noted in French as \u201cchaussee deformee \u201c that gave our cars a good suspension workout and with no mishaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, we were quickly back on the planned route for a lunch stop on the coast at the restaurant Cote d’Argent. Another excellent lunch on the terrace overlooking the Atlantic and the Surfers trying to stay upright on their boards in the Atlantic waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Off again for our last visit and wine tasting at Ch\u00e2teau Giscours where, I think we agreed, on having tasted the best wines of our trip. Difficult considering the competition we had visited. And then off to our hotels or trips home with memories of great roads, company and of course fine wines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many thanks again to Regis for his detailed planning of this trip which made it so enjoyable. We hope that other members can also step forward to organise outings in 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rapport JECSOF\/A pour le mois de mai<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quel d\u00e9but de mois de mai ! Un voyage de deux jours dans la r\u00e9gion du M\u00e9doc, en France, avec des visites aux principaux producteurs de vin et des d\u00e9gustations de certains de leurs produits.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nous avons commenc\u00e9 par un petit d\u00e9jeuner matinal au Ch\u00e2teau d’Agassac, qui a \u00e9t\u00e9 g\u00e2ch\u00e9 par l’arriv\u00e9e tardive de Chris et Carol, en raison d’un probl\u00e8me de d\u00e9marrage de leur I Pace. Heureusement, ils sont arriv\u00e9s \u00e0 temps pour la visite et la d\u00e9gustation. Le petit-d\u00e9jeuner a \u00e9t\u00e9 suivi d’une visite priv\u00e9e du ch\u00e2teau qui date du 13\u00e8me si\u00e8cle et dont certaines photos peuvent \u00eatre consult\u00e9es sur ce site. Nous nous sommes ensuite dirig\u00e9s vers les vignobles, o\u00f9 il est int\u00e9ressant de noter la diff\u00e9rence de sol entre une parcelle de vignes et une parcelle adjacente, qui conviennent toutes deux \u00e0 des c\u00e9pages diff\u00e9rents. Nous nous sommes ensuite rendus \u00e0 l’int\u00e9rieur pour voir les chais de fermentation et de vieillissement du vin, puis nous avons d\u00e9gust\u00e9 le vin dans le pigeonnier am\u00e9nag\u00e9. Un ch\u00e2teau magnifique qui m\u00e9rite d’\u00eatre visit\u00e9.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nous avons ensuite emprunt\u00e9 la Route des Ch\u00e2teaux en suivant un plan d’itin\u00e9raire complet pr\u00e9par\u00e9 par Regis di Giulio, les dossiers comprenant des cartes compl\u00e8tes de notre excursion et des d\u00e9tails sur les propri\u00e9t\u00e9s que nous allions visiter. Le prochain arr\u00eat \u00e9tait le Ch\u00e2teau Margaux pour une s\u00e9ance photo \u00e0 l’ext\u00e9rieur des portes. Apr\u00e8s la s\u00e9ance photo, c’\u00e9tait \u00e0 nouveau au tour de l’I Pace de mal se comporter et nous avons d\u00fb laisser Chris et Carol s’occuper de leur v\u00e9hicule, ce qui n’\u00e9tait pas une t\u00e2che facile avec une voiture britannique dot\u00e9e d’une couverture contre les pannes au Royaume-Uni ! Cependant, le personnel du Ch\u00e2teau Margaux n’aurait pas pu \u00eatre plus amical, malheureusement sans aller jusqu’\u00e0 une d\u00e9gustation de vin gratuite. Une tasse de caf\u00e9 a toutefois \u00e9t\u00e9 offerte.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prochain arr\u00eat \u00e0 Pauillac, au Ch\u00e2teau Hautes-Bages Liberal, pour une visite de la cave et une d\u00e9gustation de trois de leurs vins. Les propri\u00e9taires du vignoble poursuivent le d\u00e9veloppement de leur propri\u00e9t\u00e9 en tant que vignoble biologique en encourageant la biodiversit\u00e9. Nous avons ensuite repris la route sous le soleil jusqu’au Quai Leon Perrier pour un agr\u00e9able d\u00e9jeuner \u00e0 La Salamandre, qui surplombe l’estuaire de la Gironde.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le reste de l’apr\u00e8s-midi a \u00e9t\u00e9 consacr\u00e9 \u00e0 un trajet vers le nord-ouest jusqu’\u00e0 la c\u00f4te atlantique \u00e0 Soulac, en s’arr\u00eatant pour admirer le paysage. Puis, apr\u00e8s un court trajet, nous avons visit\u00e9 le Ch\u00e2teau Loudenne pour une nouvelle visite et une d\u00e9gustation de vin avant de nous arr\u00eater \u00e0 nouveau pour visiter le Phare de Richard o\u00f9 certains d’entre nous avaient encore de l’\u00e9nergie apr\u00e8s le d\u00e9jeuner et la d\u00e9gustation pour monter les marches raides jusqu’\u00e0 la galerie d’observation au sommet. Nous avons termin\u00e9 notre journ\u00e9e \u00e0 l’H\u00f4tel des Pins pour un d\u00eener bien m\u00e9rit\u00e9 et, bien s\u00fbr, une nouvelle d\u00e9gustation des produits de la r\u00e9gion. Apr\u00e8s une journ\u00e9e stressante, Chris et Carol ont pu nous rejoindre \u00e0 l’h\u00f4tel dans une voiture de location apr\u00e8s avoir envoy\u00e9 leur I Pace dans un garage (finalement). Nous leur souhaitons bonne chance pour la r\u00e9paration de leur voiture.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

D\u00e9part matinal le samedi pour un voyage le long de la c\u00f4te atlantique \u00e0 travers des paysages forestiers spectaculaires sur des routes larges et relativement calmes, traversant occasionnellement des sites de vacances et des villages. Un arr\u00eat caf\u00e9 \u00e0 la plage de Hourtin a \u00e9t\u00e9 le bienvenu, le caf\u00e9 semblant ouvrir ses portes pour la saison estivale. Le club a achet\u00e9 les caf\u00e9s car il y avait un quorum de membres du comit\u00e9 pour autoriser (et John Sharp notre tr\u00e9sorier n’\u00e9tait pas l\u00e0 !) J’esp\u00e8re que c’est OK John. !!! En raison de panneaux de fermeture de route, nous avons d\u00fb nous \u00e9carter de l’itin\u00e9raire pr\u00e9vu par Regis et nous sommes retrouv\u00e9s sur une route \u00e9troite appel\u00e9e “chauss\u00e9e d\u00e9form\u00e9e”, ce qui a donn\u00e9 \u00e0 nos voitures un bon entra\u00eenement de la suspension, sans incident.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cependant, nous sommes rapidement revenus sur l’itin\u00e9raire pr\u00e9vu pour un arr\u00eat d\u00e9jeuner sur la c\u00f4te au restaurant Cote d’Argent. Encore un excellent d\u00e9jeuner sur la terrasse avec vue sur l’Atlantique et les surfeurs qui tentent de rester debout sur leurs planches dans les vagues de l’Atlantique.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nous sommes repartis pour notre derni\u00e8re visite et d\u00e9gustation de vin au Ch\u00e2teau Giscours o\u00f9, je pense que nous sommes d’accord, nous avons d\u00e9gust\u00e9 les meilleurs vins de notre voyage. Difficile compte tenu de la concurrence que nous avions visit\u00e9e. Puis nous sommes repartis vers nos h\u00f4tels ou nos maisons avec des souvenirs de belles routes, de compagnie et, bien s\u00fbr, de bons vins.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Un grand merci \u00e0 Regis pour son organisation d\u00e9taill\u00e9e de ce voyage qui l’a rendu si agr\u00e9able. Nous esp\u00e9rons que d’autres membres se manifesteront pour organiser des sorties en 2024.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

JECSOF\/A Report for May What a start to May! A two day trip to the Medoc region of France including visits to major wine producers and including tastings of some of their fine offerings. We started with a leisurely early breakfast at Ch\u00e2teau d’Agassac only marred by the late arrival of Chris and Carol due … Continue reading May 2023 mai – Medoc Trip<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3427","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jecsofa.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3427","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jecsofa.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jecsofa.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jecsofa.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jecsofa.fr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3427"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jecsofa.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3427\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3430,"href":"https:\/\/jecsofa.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3427\/revisions\/3430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jecsofa.fr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}