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Day 1
Médoc
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Today's itinerary
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Private pick up from Bordeaux Mérignac Airport.
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Our first stop is at Château Giscours for a visit and tasting.
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From Giscours we continue through the Pauillac, St-Julien and Ste-Estephe areas passing all the well-known estates: Chateau Latour, Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Cos d’Estournel, etc.. Time permitting there will be a quick stop at the eclectic wine museum at Chateau Lafite Rothschild.
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Today we stop for a vigneron lunch at local hotspot the St-Julien in St-Julien.
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A 2nd tasting has been arranged at another of the top estates – Château Pichon-Longueville.
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After a short transfer to your hotel, walk across to the neighboring winery Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte for a visit and tasting.
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Gourmet dinner in La Grande Vigne dining room. The restaurant has an excellent wine cellar.
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Overnight at Les Sources de Caudalie.
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Les Sources de Caudalie
Designed and built in 1999 and expanded in 2001, Caudalie blends in perfectly with its Château Smith Haut Lafitte neighbour. The hotel has a three hole golf course, a beautiful swimming pool/hot tub and sits next to France’s first Vinotherapy spa.
You may wish to...Take advantage of the Vinotherapy area with a Red Wine Bath, a Honey and Wine Wrap, an Invigorating Grape Oil
Massage or one of the many other specialized treatments.
Designed and built in 1999 and expanded in 2001, Caudalie blends in perfectly with its Château Smith Haut Lafitte neighbour. The hotel has a three hole golf course, a beautiful swimming pool/hot tub and sits next to France’s first Vinotherapy spa.
Médoc
The Médoc area of the Bordeaux appellation stretches North West from the city of Bordeaux along the left bank of the Gironde estuary. Here the climate mild, moderated both by the estuary and the Atlantic Ocean behind the woods to the west. These forests protect the vineyards from strong winds off the ocean and help to moderate summer temperatures. Many man-hours have been spent charting the subterranean Médoc. It has long been argued that its greatest attribute is its soil, and in particular the gravel that predominates and allows for excellent drainage. The gravels of the Médoc are particularly important in such a damp climate-although in hotter vintages mature vines can benefit from the extensive root systems encouraged by the gravel. The gravels also store valuable heat, which helps to promote ripening. It is traditionally said that the top Médoc vines grow within sight of the Gironde estuary, this saying holds true for all the district’s first growths.
The Médoc area of the Bordeaux appellation stretches North West from the city of Bordeaux along the left bank of the Gironde estuary. Here the climate mild, moderated both by the estuary and the Atlantic Ocean behind the woods to the west. These forests protect the vineyards from strong winds off the ocean and help to moderate summer temperatures. Many man-hours have been spent charting the subterranean Médoc. It has long been argued that its greatest attribute is its soil, and in particular the gravel that predominates and allows for excellent drainage. The gravels of the Médoc are particularly important in such a damp climate-although in hotter vintages mature vines can benefit from the extensive root systems encouraged by the gravel. The gravels also store valuable heat, which helps to promote ripening. It is traditionally said that the top Médoc vines grow within sight of the Gironde estuary, this saying holds true for all the district’s first growths.
Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte
Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte was purchased in 1990 by Florence and Denis Cathiard, two former French national team skiers who made their fortune in the supermarket and sports equipment business. Huge investments in new winemaking equipment and a state-of-the-art- cellar and cooperage have started to yield fruit in vintage after vintage of elegant, rich and mesmerizing wine, both red and white. A winery that was a consistent underachiever has become once again a leader for Graves – or as this section of it is now known – Pessac-Leognan. Today Smith-Haut-Lafitte is viewed as one the region’s shining success stories, reflecting what hard work and conscientious owners can achieve in a short period of time.
Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte was purchased in 1990 by Florence and Denis Cathiard, two former French national team skiers who made their fortune in the supermarket and sports equipment business. Huge investments in new winemaking equipment and a state-of-the-art- cellar and cooperage have started to yield fruit in vintage after vintage of elegant, rich and mesmerizing wine, both red and white. A winery that was a consistent underachiever has become once again a leader for Graves – or as this section of it is now known – Pessac-Leognan. Today Smith-Haut-Lafitte is viewed as one the region’s shining success stories, reflecting what hard work and conscientious owners can achieve in a short period of time.
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St Emilion wine Chateau Cheval Blanc, Bordeaux, France |