Yet another glorious morning, we had a knock-out day ahead of us. First up was the stunning Château Rauzan Segla, which has to be one of the most beautifully kept Chateaux in Bordeaux. The gardeners were out at force with their hoses, the lawns were immaculate – well I guess they need to irrigate somewhere! This Chanel-owned property is a star performer in the appellation of Margaux and Alice Biscarrat looked after us so well.
With the sweet taste of 2009 Rauzan Segla lingering nicely in our palates we headed north to the Pauillac estate of Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste for lunch with Emeline Borie. Emeline is as generous a host as you will come across anywhere, and 1995 Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs went down very quickly. The first of the reds was the classic Haut Batailley 2005. Château Haut Batailley is another Pauillac estate owned by the Borie family, and this is a wine that we should all have in our cellars – so well done if you do! Next up was the rich 2003 Grand Puy Lacoste which was poured side by side with the excellent 2000 vintage (this just gets better each time I try it) – it is really hard to find a better Pauillac for the money these days. There is something very special about this place, an absolute favourite of mine and I hope to be back again soon.
It was then time for our first ‘First Growth’ of the week, the much admired Château Mouton Rothschild. This has to be my favourite châteaux in Bordeaux. They have several tour options, from a classic introduction to winemaking to a more interesting experience that includes a look at the importance of art to the family. It was amazing to walk through the Museum and see Baroness Philippine de Rothschild’s fine collection of paintings and labels. It was my first time tasting the 2014 – a weighty style of Mouton that is likely to reward consumers with many years of fine drinking.
Now, with the day coming to an end, we headed back to our hotel – La Maison Bord’eaux, for a cold glass of beer. Dinner at L’Estacade was delicious, and hands down the best view of the river and Bordeaux itself…….Best restaurant in Bordeaux? I think so.