Following our day in the St. Emilion vineyards, we hopped the train to Bordeaux, a 35-minute ride to the sizable city where Phyllicia led us on a walking tour around some of the sights, including the “mirror” at Place de la Bourse, before we stopped for lunch (and an absinthe) on the sunny afternoon.

We continued on the tram to the La Cite du Vin, the wine museum where we learned everything we need to know about wine making and more before we discovered Phyllicia’s hidden motive in taking us to Bordeaux — the caneles, a sweet treat we purchased at a colorful shop.

We headed back to St. Emilion for a memorable fireside dinner at L’Envers du Decor: delicious oysters followed by a beef dish with Bearnaise sauce, a 2010 Saint Emilion Grand Cru, all topped off with soufflés and a 20-year-old cognac.