June 11, 2011 – After our field trip in the Medoc, we arrived back in Bordeaux around 6pm and immediately walked to the Bar a Vin for happy hour. This is a great wine bar in downtown Bordeaux which is sponsored by the CIVC. It is a good introduction to the wines of Bordeaux with all regions represented and excellent prices – with many of the wines only $2 euros per glass. Very modern and eclectic décor; it is a great place to hang out.
Eventually about 20 wine business professors congregated at Bar a Vin, and around 7pm 15 of us decided to go for an early dinner at Le Mably Restaurant. It was only a couple of blocks to walk there and we were immediately seated in a back private room without reservations. This is because most people don’t eat in France until around 8pm.
The best feature of Le Mably is the $18 euro prix fixe menu with 3 excellent courses. I started with the foie gras salad, then had a wonderful fresh fish course with vegetables, and concluded with a decadent crème custard dessert. Before we knew it, some of the more enthusiastic members of our group had ordered many bottles of wine and we proceeded to have a long and very fun dinner with many jokes and entertaining stories. When we all departed with lots of hugs, everyone agreed it was one of the most fun evenings of the trip.