Chateau and Chinon

Chateau d'Azay Le Rideau started our Wednesday. Another Medieval wonder, the chateau was undergoing significant renovation as evidenced by the shroud of plastic and scaffolding enveloping the structure. Nonetheless, it was interesting to receive another lesson in French history as seen through the lives of the aristocrats who passed through the chateau over the centuries. The timber frame construction was a marvel in engineering and the moat added to the chateau's character. 

After a delightful lunch in a small cafe, we rode to Chinon and checked into the Hotel Diderot. Note: The narrowness of the streets or the topography in all of the towns prevents our bus from getting close to our lodging. As a result we schlep ever heavier luggage through city streets like a bunch of nomads trekking to the next camp site. 

The hotel came under the ownership of Jean-Pierre and Jamie Schler-Dagneaux in January. Jamie is from Florida. 

Just down the street from the hotel is the Couly-Dutheil winery. Back underground once again, we saw the wine caves full of dusty wine bottles awaiting their labels. The high moisture content in the limestone caves dictates that bottles receive a label just before they are sold, otherwise the label would fall off after a short time. 

Cabernet franc is the only grape used in Chinon. Our hostess wonderfully described the soil and climate variations that gave each wine its unique character. Six delightful wines pleased our palates and we retreated to the hotel for an informal, quiet reception (ha!). 

Couldn't help but notice the Chinon functional architectural feature that we first saw in Sibenik, Croatia--a brilliant method to deter public urination by filling a corner so that urine splashes back on the urinator. 

Pete and I pursued  the sunset over the La Vienne River which ended another perfect day in France.