Vineyard Dispatches

Olivier Leflaive – here with Per – is a legend and a master of white Burgundy, such as Puligny- Montrachet and Meursault.

Joseph Drouhin has impressive cellars in the middle of Beaune, the oldest in Burgundy. There is even a Roman wall. Some nice wines as well…

Walking around the city, some views from Bordeaux. It is one of the most elegant cities in France. With its opera, Pont de Pierre, riverside walk, Miroir d’eaux (water mirror)…

A sunny afternoon is perfect for a walk in Saint Emilion. A Medieval town full of cafés, restaurants and wine shops.

On the whole – amazing. We had a stunning series of wines on the Bordeaux tour. We had almost all vintages from 2000 to 2025. And all major appellations. Good job!

What a grande finale with Chateau Franc-Mayne and Jacques. The impressive oak, the underground 2 ha cellar, and an amazing lunch at Grand Barrail with an outstanding selection of wines. Encore! Encore!

When we were there earlier in the year, the grapes were not yet harvested at Askerne Vineyards, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. Gewurztraminer (or is it pinot gris?) semillon and several others.

Jenny Dobson was a pioneer in New Zealand. She makes the wine at Unison Vineyards, as well as some of her own.

After a few drops of early morning rain we went to visit Chateau Bernateau, Saint Emilion, Bordeaux. Grapes were just arriving, cabernet franc. We got an excellent demo of grape reception, including the liquid-base sorter.

In the afternoon at Chateau Beychevelle, Saint Julien, Bordeaux we visited their impressive new cellar, a glass box with a sea theme. Harvest still going on, in its last days. All looking very good, mostly

A fabulous and very instructive tasting at Domaine de Cebene in the beautiful region of Faugères, famous for its amazing schist soil. With owners and wine makers Brigitte Chevalier and Pierre Roque. Among the wines

Lunch at Chateau Beychevelle, Saint Julien, Bordeaux. I certainly would not mind to come back. What an extraordinary place, what extraordinary wines, such a memorable meal.

A great morning visit at Château Cantenac Brown in Margaux, Bordeaux. A very impressive cellar, some poor guy emptying a tank, cathedral barrel cellar, and, of course, a tasting, a vertical of four vintages.

And then we went to E2M and met winemaker not like others, Nea at Chateau Carsin, Entre-deux-Mers, Bordeaux. Exciting things happening here, exciting wines, looking towards the future.

Good luck with the weather. We had lunch in Sauternes by the vineyards overlooking the vines of Chateau Guiraud. Well-deserved Michelin star. Blue lobster, Chateau Guiraud sauternes 2003….

A rather very, very nice lunch at Chateau Haut-Bailly, Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, so delicately composed and so delicious wines. A privilege to have Véronique Sanders greet us.

At Paradise Rescued in Cardan, Bordeaux, we had a really deep dive in all that has to do with soil, plants and environment. And tasted a true garage wine. Some really original products.

One of the oldest chateaux in Bordeaux, with roots back to Medieval times. An afternoon at Chateau Olivier, Pessac Leognan, Graves, Bordeaux. Making both white and red.

Chateau Haut-Bailly, Graves (Pessac Leognan), Bordeaux, has an amazing wine cellar, both beautiful and very easy and efficient to work with.

At Chateau de France, we came when it was 2 days left of the harvest. Lots of activit and a very personal story by the owner. Graves (Pessac Leognan), Bordeaux

Château Phélan Ségur i Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, in its beautiful location. A look at the gravelly soil. Harvest just started! Some small sun damage to the grapes, this extraordinary summer. Impressive wines with a little surprise.

A long and lovely lunch at Chateau Phelan Segur, Saint Estephe, Bordeaux. Enjoying some delicious food and excellent wines in the chateau.

A few châteaux along the Route des Grands Crus in Médoc. Do you recognise them? They are all very famous. Two close to each other. The third à bit further away.

What a lovely morning at Château Lascombes, Margaux, Bordeaux. A great visit, at the very last days of the harvest. Great tasting of four vintages, a vertical back to 2000!

Champagne Vaucelle in the Cote des Bar has just finished harvesting its grapes. A record early harvest with high sugar levels. Promising.