Bordeaux 2025 Primeurs: Pessac-Léognan, Red
“Where in God’s name are you going?” screamed Taylor Swift. “This is the third time we’ve gone around this traffic circle!”
“It’s not a traffic circle, it’s a roundabout. Or a rond-point if you want to learn a little of the local lingo,” suggested Twingo. He was trying to be helpful of course. Although being helpful does not always go down well with Taylor, I have come to realise.
“First,” retorted Taylor, “don’t lecture me about French. I can do French. The proof is in my video for Me!, which I made with Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco. And that was me talking at the start, not artificial intelligence, as some have alleged. Second, I don’t care what it’s called. We’ll never get anywhere if we keep going round like this.”
I had to agree with Taylor, and it was partly my fault. I had missed the turning for the increasingly difficult-to-locate road which led to the back gates at La Mission Haut-Brion. There used to a couple of points at which you could get on it, but after roadworks and the creation of a new bus lane, there is only one access point; and you have to remember to turn on to it before you hit the traffic circle. Or rond-point. Or whatever it’s called.
The perils of doing the driving and tasting yourself. The chauffeur-driven elite just don’t suffer these sorts of trials.
“As we’re heading for La Mission,” shouted an increasingly incensed Taylor, “may I suggest going through the front gates. It’s how I usually get in.”
“We can’t,” I replied, as I found myself now driving along a bus lane next to – but clearly separate from – the road I needed to be on. “They only open the front gates during the official primeurs week, which isn’t until next week. This week we need to go in the back gates – those ones over there…..or the far side of that tram line. Now how did that happen?”
Eventually, after one U-turn (executed with the help of Taylor Swift who hopped out to stop the traffic) and one further circuit of the rond-point, we eventually arrived at the gates. A quick buzz on the intercom and we were in.
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