It was a treat to take 10 tourists away to Bordeaux for 3 days of wine tasting at some of the most iconic Chateaux in the world. If you had to make a hit list of where you would like to visit in Bordeaux, I think we certainly gave it a good crack at fitting in most of the top 20!
Here is a day by day account of this incredibly memorable trip.
Day 1 – Pessac Leognan and Sauternes
We kicked off the tour at the bottom of the Left Bank – with our first tasting at Château Smith Haut Lafitte in Pessac Leognan where we enjoyed a fantastic tutored tasting with their head winemaker. Their wines set the tone for the trip – as everyone gave very positive feedback on Le Petit Haut Lafitte 2016, Smith Haut Lafitte Grand Cru 2017 and finishing on Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2020.
We then travelled to Sauternes to visit Chateau Suduiraut, where we tasted a rockstar flight of wines, both sweet and dry, finishing the line up with their 2007, 2006 and 2005 Suduiraut Grand Vin. The wines were served alongside a delectable selection of canapes designed to show how their sweet and dry wines can be matched with a multitude of food options.
From Suiduiraut, we headed back to Bordeaux to visit Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion – a chateau that is the only one to grow their vines within the city of Bordeaux. After a look around the vineyard and their very modern cellars – we enjoyed tasting their ‘C’ Des Carmes Haut Brion 2018 and Carmes Haut Brion Grand Vin 2017.
After a couple of hours downtime at our hotel in Bordeaux, we made our way out to dinner at Pointe Rouge – a restaurant with one of the best wine lists in Bordeaux, although did not carry a huge amount of stock of each wine for our thirsty tourists! One of our Negotiants joined us – and provided us with a couple of bottles of Californian red wine, Overture – the second wine at the famed Opus One. Superb.
Day 2 – Pomerol and Saint Emilion
Today was the turn of the Right Bank – and first up was Saint Emilion – amazingly we arrived early to Chateau Figeac! After a excellent vineyard and cellar tour with the very informative and entertaining Gwen, we tasted their 2015 Figeac that really was a real treat. Now 9 years old, this is starting to approach its drinking window – and we all would highly recommend it.
Next up was Château Troplong Mondot in Saint Emilion – where we had another super tour of the estate and cellars, we tasted their 2018 vintages of the second wine Mondot, before the Troplong Mondot Grand Vin.
One of the highlights of the trip was lunch in the excellent Michelin-starred Les Belles Perdrix restaurant on the Troplong estate – this is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you are ever in the area and are looking for a special lunch spot.
After lunch, we popped into Pomerol to visit Chateau La Conseillante and tasted their 2022 Grand Vin. This was relatively challenging to taste a barrel sample compared to all other older wines on the trip – but it was interesting to hear a little bit about the Chateaux – and see who their direct neighbours were. (Petrus, VCC, Lafleur and Cheval Blanc)
Always good to leave one of the best tastings until the end of the day – and Cheval Blanc in Saint Emilion certainly delivered. We had a tour around the vineyard, then of their amazing new cellars – before enjoying their 2011 Cheval Blanc. Very very positive feedback all round here!
Dinner on night 2 was a more informal affair at Brasserie Bordelaise – where we tucked into a few magnums and some sweet wines for those on Foie Gras and Tarte Tatin!
Day 3 – Margaux, Saint Estephe, Saint Julien and Pauillac
Saving the best until last? Impossible to say – but on day 3 we were treated to two First Growth and two Second Growth visits!
First up was Château Margaux – where we had a tour of their incredible estate, even watching their in house Cooper (barrel maker) in action. We were able to taste their second wine, Pavillon Rouge 2015, and then made our way onto the Grand Vin, Chateau Margaux 2011. These were both brilliant wines – and there was very little spitting (no spitting to be exact!) for this 10am tasting.
We then made our way to Saint-Estèphe to visit Château Montrose. This visit included a look at the iconic Barrel Hall, as well as a tasting of Tronquoy 2018, La Dame Montrose and two vintages of Chateau Montrose – 2014 and 2019.
After an excellent pit stop for lunch at Café Lavinal, overlooking the amazing new facilities at Chateau Lynch Bages, we got back in the fun bus and headed to Saint Julien, for our next tasting at Château Ducru Beaucaillou. We added their range of wines to our list recently and they certainly didn’t disappoint – we finished off with their 2006 Gran Vin.
Finally, the last tasting of this trip involved a very special visit to Château Mouton Rothschild. Incredibly famous, very traditional, with plenty of history and culture to take in. The wine label gallery was very memorable indeed and worth a visit if you can. (no photos allowed in there!)
The last two wines on tour were a treat. Petit Mouton 2014, then Mouton Rothschild 2015. A fantastic way to end our tour – we look forward to planning a similar tour this time next year.
A testimonial from our first time tourists:
“Dear Charles & Jeremy,
The trip to Bordeaux wildly exceeded our expectations .. thanks to both of you for making this possible.
Having been on several wine excursions, the Bordeaux experience was simply the best .. the organization and planning, the choice of the estates, the quality of wines sampled ..and, of course, the company ! Quite frankly, we didn’t know what to expect when we signed up, but I’m so so glad that we did.
Poonam and I were new to the group, and both of you made a special effort to make us feel welcome and ‘at home’ .. most appreciated !
We’re going to have many envious friends when we describe our Bordeaux experience to them .. I’ll have to try some of your Declassified Pauillac with them to ease the pain !
Best wishes
Ajai and Poonam”
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