If you don’t like Bordeaux wine, don’t come to the second Le Bordelais (previously called Burdigala) branch – recently opened on Jiashan Lu to complement the existing Wuding Lu venue. Only wine from the region is served here. But rather than this making the bar feel limited, with an increasing number of identikit wine bars opening across the city, it’s refreshing to have a wine venue with such a strong identity.
The friendly, attentive staff are proud of the place (both the venue and Bordeaux) – they offer to show us the cellar on our first evening visit, and display their 70-strong wine list in large type on the main wall. There are plenty of reasonably priced bottles such as the Chateau Grand Pierre 2010 (265RMB) right through to more decadent options including the Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste 1999 (1,690RMB). The house red is a very pleasant and smooth Chateau Cru Godard 2008 (42RMB/glass).
There are lots of restaurant tables inside, with decent French food on offer. The beef tartare (178RMB) is mixed in front of you to your specifications of spiciness by a waiter. It’s a nice touch, although it means the meat is at room temperature rather than having the trademark chill the dish really should have. The place to be, however, is the terrace – the roadside view isn’t the most stunning, but with high tables and a narrow runway it almost feels like a Tardis trip to a breezy French bar front.
Inside or out, with its great drinks selection and stay-all-night friendliness, Le Bordelais 2 is a must-visit for wine nuts. Bring on the full Bordeaux invasion.
