Bordeaux Wine Tour
HARVEST IN BORDEAUX
September 3rd – 7th 2012
Hosted by James Lawther, MW
Join us on a trip to visit some of the greatest wine estates in the world. Dine at Michelin restaurants, stay at a 5 star Chateau set amongst the vineyards, and experience the harvest in Bordeaux whilst being guided by James Lawther, a Master of Wine who lives in Bordeaux and has published books on the region. It’s a once in a lifetime trip!
D’Yquem Cheval Blanc Latour Palmer
Le Bon Pasteur Ducru-Beaucaillou Domaine de Chevalier
Raymond-Lafon Teyssier Millesima negociant Smith Haut Lafitte
2* Michelin restaurant in St-Emilion and 1* Michelin in Pessac-Leognan
Visit to the medieval city of St Emilion and dinner in the city center of Bordeaux
It’s a wine and food lover’s dream for $3,500 including tax per person based on double occupancy.
Your guide: James Lawther, Master of Wine
James Lawther, Master of Wine, has lived in Bordeaux for the last 15 years. In the 1980s James worked at Steven Spurrier’s famous Cave de la Madeleine wine shop in Paris and then went on to work vintages in Burgundy, Australia and Bordeaux. He passed the Master of Wine exam in 1993, and then moved with his family to Bordeaux. He is the major local writer with a major book on the region. He also contributes to Decanter and rates the wines for buyers. I can confidently say that James Lawther knows more about Bordeaux than anyone I have ever met, including the French. He’s also a fun guy, who’s always game for a glass of wine and a good laugh.
The program
We will visit a selection of the very best chateaux in Bordeaux, including several of the most famous names in the wine world, like Yquem, Cheval Blanc, Latour and Ducru-Beaucaillou. In fact, they are all outstanding. The wines we’ll taste will be superb.
We will have spectacular lunches and dinners with the owners and winemakers at the wineries. We’ll go to one of the best restaurants in the world, a 2* Michelin in St-Emilion, and also enjoy a 1* Michelin at Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte. The restaurant in St-Emilion will be one of your greatest gastronomic experiences ever.
We’ll stay at a 5 star hotel surrounded by vineyards (Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte – Les Sources de Caudalie), which is famous for their spa.
You’ll learn about viticulture, winemaking, and the characteristics of the major appellations of Bordeaux from top experts in the business.
It will be a memorable experience. Great wines, excellent food, a 1st class hotel amidst the vines, and a learning experience beyond comparison.
Why take a tour of Bordeaux from Fine Vintage?
These Bordeaux chateaux are not open to visitors, unless you are a trade buyer and have a connection. The only reason that we are able to visit is because of James Lawther and James Cluer’s connections and buying activities. So you’ll see inside the estates, meet the key people, taste wines that they rarely show, and enjoy an unusually interesting and unique visit.
Price: The cost per person is CAD$3,500 including tax.
This price includes accommodation at the luxurious Les Source de Caudalie, all meals except on the Wednesday evening, superb wine at all meals, all chateaux visits and tastings, and local transport. Flights are not included.
There is a CAD$900 supplement if you are traveling alone. This is to cover the cost of the single occupancy hotel room. If you wish, we will try to arrange for you to share with someone else and put both interested parties in touch with each other.
To join the tour:
Simply email James@finevintageltd.com and we’ll send you the booking form and answer any questions you may have.
THE PROGRAM:
Monday Sept 3rd:
Our hotel for the entire duration is Smith Haut Lafitte’s luxury property “Les Sources de Caudalie” http://www.sources-caudalie.com/ . It’s just 20 minutes by taxi from the airport or train station.
Les Source de Caudalie is a favorite place to stay because it is a 5 star hotel, surrounded by vineyards, has 2 excellent restaurants, a swimming pool, 3 hole golf course, plus all the usual amenities of a 5 star hotel, and it’s just 20 minutes from the city centre of Bordeaux.
The famous spa at Les Sources de Caudalie is renowned for its grape based treatments that help turn back the clock. Although the wines from Smith sell for about $200 per bottle in Canada, the owners joke that the spa is much more profitable. Les Sources de Caudalie also has a spa at The Plaza Hotel in New York, so you get the idea….
You can check in after 3.30 pm at the latest, but contact the hotel and request your room be ready earlier if that works with your travel plans. If you want to arrive a few days earlier to explore the city of Bordeaux you may want to consider staying at The Regent in town.
3.30 pm Meet James Lawther and the group (max 20 people), Champagne reception, introductions, and overview of the program.
4.00 pm We kick off just 100 metres from the hotel at Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte in Pessac-Leognan with a tour and tasting.
Smith Haut Lafitte is one of the leading chateau in Pessac-Leognan. It’s a stunning property run by the Cathiard family, who sold a chain of sporting goods stores and purchased one of the top chateau in Bordeaux. Smith is a favorite winery in Bordeaux with a gorgeous underground cellar, and they make white wines that rank in Wine Spectator’s top 100 wines of the world and the reds score well into the 90’s by Parker. They are also one of the few wineries in Bordeaux to make their own barrels on site.
That evening we will have dinner at the 1 star Michelin restaurant where we will be staying – Les Sources de Caudalie – just 100 meters from the winery. The food is fantastic, with 4 courses, and some great vintages of Smith and a Sauternes that will send you off to bed all happy.
Tuesday Sept 4th: The Medoc
9.30 am We will board a luxury coach and head off to the Medoc.
11.00 am Visit, tour and tasting at Chateau Palmer, AC Margaux, 3rd Growth
Although officially ranked a third growth, the wines of Chateau Palmer consistently outperform a number of second growths and for this reason the wines are highly sought after throughout the world. It is the other great estate in Margaux, with a high proportion of Merlot in the blend. The 2005 vintage sells for over $500 in Canada. You’ll get to taste these fantastic wines in one of the grandest chateau in Bordeaux, complete with turrets and flags flying in the breeze.
12.30 pm Visit, tour, tasting and lunch at Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou, AC St. Julien, 2nd Growth
The Borie family took control of Ducru in 1941 and have turned this estate into what many call their “desert island” wine. The gorgeous property slopes down to the river and the beau caillou (pretty stones) are part of the terroir that produces the stunning grand vin. For me, Ducru is the king of the Super seconds, and now makes wines that are on a par with the first growths. We’ll enjoy a fantastic French country lunch in the chateau along with a number of exquisite vintages.
3.30 pm Visit, tour and tasting at Chateau Latour, AC Pauillac, 1st Growth
This is a very coveted visit and tasting. Very few people are allowed into Latour. Of all the wines in the Medoc, the wines of Chateau Latour arguably display the most power and depth and are prized by collectors around the world. Is this the greatest of the 1st growths? Quite possibly. The wines can age for over 100 years, and even the new vintages command prices in the thousands of dollars. So this an experience you won’t forget.
6.30 pm Bordeaux city – casual group dinner at Place du Parlement.
After an exhilarating day tasting wines in the Medoc we’ll drive back towards our hotel, stopping in the city center of Bordeaux. We’ll wander by a few monuments, like the Opera House, on our way for a fun and casual dinner in a beautiful romantic little square called Place du Parlement. Don’t sue us if you fall in love.
9 ish pm Return to the hotel, just 20 minutes away.
Wednesday Sept 5th – Pessac-Leognan and Sauternes
9.00 am Board our luxury coach for the drive to Chateau d’Yquem
10.00 am Visit, tour and tasting at Chateau d’Yquem, AC Sauternes, Premier Grand Cru
What a way to start the day! This is considered to be the finest dessert wine in the world with vintages going back over 150 years. A ½ bottle of the 2005 vintage costs about $1000. After our tour we’ll taste this 1st growth of Sauternes. It’s an experience to see how they make this stunning wine and then taste it, before lunch.
11.30 pm Visit and lunch at Chateau Raymond-Lafon, AC Sauternes
The Meslier family have owned Chateau Raymond-Lafon since 1972 and Jean-Pierre Meslier will host us for an amazing lunch that will include foie gras and a variety of vintages of Raymond-Lafon. Hold on to your seat. This will be one of the best days of your life so far. Our host, Pierre Meslier was general manager at Chateau d’Yquem before turning his attention full time to his own vineyards and implementing the same high standards practiced at d’Yquem.
4.00 pm Visit, tour and tasting at Domaine de Chevalier, AC Pessac-Leognan
Usually after a visit to Yquem, and a beautiful lunch with verticals of Raymond Lafon you’d think the final visit just couldn’t compete. Wrong. Remy gives THE best tour of anyone I’ve ever met anywhere in the world and the whites of Chevalier are considered the TOP in Bordeaux, at least by me and many others.
The vineyards of Domaine de Chevalier are planted on some of the most marginal land in Bordeaux yet the property is beautiful with the pine forest of the Landes just touching its border. You’ll have the opportunity to taste the stunning whites as well as the reds at this remarkable estate.
6.00 pm Arrive back at Smith Haut Lafitte
After two days of big lunches and dinners this evening is left free for you to either relax at Les Sources, go to the Spa, or to head into the city of Bordeaux to explore and have a night on the town. The bus will take you to and from the city should you wish, leaving at about 7 pm.
Thursday Sept 6 – St-Emilion
10.00 am Depart for St-Emilion
11.00 am St-Emilion
We’ll head into the historic old town of St-Emilion, a world heritage site and the most beautiful wine village in the world. Steep stone streets wind their way through the village and promise a new discovery around each corner. This is a great spot to buy wine as most chateaux do not sell their wine when you visit. We’ll have an hour to explore before heading off to Chateau Teyssier. But don’t worry, we’re returning for a 2 star Michelin dinner that evening.
12.00 pm: Visit and lunch at Chateau Teyssier
When Jonathan Malthus purchased Chateau Teyssier back in 1991 the estate underwent a serious modernization, both in terms of physical structure and winemaking. Jonathan gained prominence in the 1990s as the “garagiste” movement gained momentum in and around St-Emilion. This self styled Englishman making great wine in France and Napa will be our host for a truly memorable lunch and wine tasting. Be ready to laugh. On all of our trips so far we have had great groups and all too often we end up in hysterics – Jonathan is sure to trigger it. His wines, like Le Dome, are up there with the 95+ pointers and cost big bucks on the shelf. Pace yourself my friends. Dinner is coming too.
3.30 pm: Visit and tasting at Chateau Cheval Blanc, AC St-Emilion, Premier Grand Cru classe
This is the iconic estate of St-Emilion. You’ll see the new winery that was completed last year. The new building was designed by renowned architect, Christian de Portzamparc and features a living roof planted with grasses and wild flowers. Worldwide demand for these wines far outstrips supply with prices for the 2010 well over $4,000 per bottle. Hope you enjoy it.
5.00 pm: We wrap up the day with a visit and tasting at Chateau Le Bon Pasteur, AC Pomerol
This is 2 minutes drive from Cheval Blanc. Part of “Flying Winemaker” Michel Rolland’s collection of 12 vineyards throughout the world, Le Bon Pasteur was originally started by Michel’s grand parents in the 1920’s. It remains just seven hectares in size with the vineyard planted to 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet France. Le Bon Pasteur unmistakably showcases the beauty of Pomerol wines and is the most technologically advanced winery in the world, and yet uses some of the very oldest techniques too. David Lesage will do the visit, and all the women will fall head over heels in love with him, as usual.
7. 30 pm It’s been a hard day’s work touring and tasting so we’re going to relax and savour a magnificent dinner in St-Emilion at a 2 star Michelin restaurant – Le Grand Chef Relais - which is owned by Gerard Perse of the famed Chateau Pavie. We will have a 6 course tasting menu paired with a stunning flight of wines from the Bordeaux region. We went here last year and it was pure magic. The outdoor terrace will capture your heart and the impeccable service and exquisite food are second to none. This will become a 3 star restaurant in France – I’ll bet you on it.
Friday Sept 7th:
You can either check out of the hotel or you can contact them yourself and arrange to stay additional day(s).
10.00 am After a nice sleep-in and a delicious buffet breakfast, we’ll wrap up the winery visits back at Smith Haut Lafitte where we will meet with the winemaker, and visit the barrel making area. It’s fascinating to watch the barrels being made. Or you can sleep in, have a swim, and catch us at 11.15 am for departure.
11.15 am Depart for Millesima negociant
If you are checking out then we’ll put your bags on the bus.
12.00 pm Millesima
To wrap up the tour we will visit a negociant called Millesima, a major trader of all the top wines in Bordeaux. We will visit the massive warehouses with thousands of cases of wines and learn about the role of a negociant in the wine business of Bordeaux. We will have a buffet-style lunch with some lovely wines. You’ll also have an opportunity to purchase wine at Millesima so make note of your favorites during the tour.
3.00 pm The bus will then go first to the train station arriving at approximately 3.30 pm, then back to the hotel by 4 pm, and then on to the airport by 5 pm. Leave yourself some extra time for unexpected traffic delays when booking trains and planes.
Price: $3,500 including tax per person based on double occupancy.
There is a $900 per person single supplement.
Space is limited to 20.
It will be a great trip with lots of fine wine, great food, amazing chateaux, a luxury hotel, a nice amount of wine education and many, many laughs.
To join the tour simply email James@finevintageltd.com and request the booking form. Every year we have sold out so sign up soon to avoid disappointment.