Bordeaux 2018 Primeurs: Margaux
Leaving the first of two marathon UGC tastings in Bordeaux, for the 2018 primeurs, I realised I was running late. Picking up my pace, I threw myself into the driving seat of my hire car. Or at least I tried to; always selecting the correct side is not as easy as you might think when you have just switched between a right-hand drive in the UK and a left-hand drive in France. Having leapt out and selected the correct seat on my second attempt, I pointed the car in the direction of Margaux. The one-way system around the Cité du Vin, this year’s venue for the UGC tastings, did its best to delay my departure, but eventually I was on my way.
Once out of the city I managed to make up a little lost ground, and so to my surprise I arrived at Château Palmer dead on time for my appointment. During the primeurs each châteaux runs its appointments schedule in an extraordinarily slick manner, so that it is rare to have to wait. But I was here a week earlier than usual, and Thomas Duroux was busy with an over-running appointment, the receptionist told me. I would have to wait while Thomas and the renowned wine critic, Dirk Darkhôler*, finished their tasting. A frustrating twenty minutes later I watched as Monsieur Darkhôler left the tasting room and bumbled his way across the car park. At last I was in, but I was starting much later than I had hoped.
Naturally this had a knock-on effect, and I was thus somewhat tardy when I finally turned up for my appointment at Château Margaux. Indeed, I was twenty minutes late for all my afternoon appointments for which, on each occasion, I apologised profusely. “Don’t be worried”, I was told upon uttering my grovelling atonement at Château Margaux, “Mr Bascaules is also running a little behind with his previous appointment, who arrived later than expected”.
“Is it, by any chance, Monsieur Dirk Darkhôler?”, I enquired. The look on the receptionist’s face, who seemingly now regarded me as some sort of psychic savant, told me all I needed to know. Next year I shall have to ensure I am the first to leave the UGC tasting, en route for Margaux, if indeed that is my chosen timetable. Or, at the very, least, I should keep an eye on the renowned Dirk Darkhôler*, and at the first sign he is leaving, pack up and make a dash for the car. I would also benefit from some sort of system which ensures that, even when I am in a rush, I select the driver’s and not the passenger’s door, as I am sure – once you tot up all the time I spend doing it – this activity must account for several hours of my time in Bordeaux. All suggestions for what this system might be will of course be gratefully received.
