It doesn’t matter where you are, or where you’re from, when the name “Bordeaux” is uttered, you immediately think of wine. Of course at DuVine we also think of bicycle tours in Bordeaux. This region, graced by phenomenal soils and an oceanic climate, is all about our favorite beverage. Almost everyone thinks immediately of red wines but the region also produces large quantities of white.
A Tasting in Bordeaux
The reds are beautiful, luscious, rich and complex with black fruit flavors. The dry whites highlight Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon & Muscadelle grape varieties which, when blended, create light, fruity and crisp wines. And then there is the Botrytis Cinerea (a.k.a. Noble Rot) infected grapes which produce the fabulous sweet wine bottled as Sauternes.
Blessed by Bacchus, the region boasts, arguably, the most famous wines in the world: Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Margaux, Château Petrus, Château Cheval Blanc, Château d’Yquem.
Chateau Margaux
Recently, it appears as though the wine keeps getting better. The 2009 vintage has been hailed as the “vintage of the century.” Bottles from both, 2000 and 2005, have also received extremely high scores from wine critics throughout the world. Although not receiving as much press as the aforementioned years, wonderful wines have been made in 2006, as well as in the difficult years of 2003 and 2007.
Over the past year, DuVine guests have had the privilege of tasting exquisite wines from small, local producers as well as from large famous Châteaux. Listing all of the wines would be nearly impossible but there are many that stand out.
Chateau Figeac
Highlighted wines:
2000 Château Angelus
2003 Château Gazin
1996 Château Palmer
1985, 2003, 2005 Couvent des Jacobins
1975 Petit Cheval
2000, 2003 Château Figeac
2000, 2004 Château Lynch-Bages
2004, 2009 (barrel sample) Rauzan-Ségla
1978 Château Kirwan
What makes this Bordeaux wine tour special isn’t just the quality of wine, but the people that we meet at the vineyards and Châteaux. By beginning the tour with smaller producers, we are able to get personalized visits and exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of the winemaking facilities.
Robert, the owner of Le Moulin de Moustelat, is very proud of his quaint operation. He makes a very traditional Claret, a Bordeaux style rosé, not sweet, slightly tannic – an excellent summer wine. He performs lots of vineyard work for his neighbors as well. Recently, he displayed his machine harvesters to a group of DuVine guests, providing detailed explanations of the functioning of these revolutionary machines.
Up the road, Wilfrid & Jackie have a stunning château where they produce acclaimed red wines, some aged in American oak barrels, as well as a delicate Sauvignon Blanc. Their passion for the region, for farming and for wine is incredibly contagious. We like to start the visit of Château Carbonneau in the fields, amongst the vines. Here we learn the techniques of vineyard management, grape selection and winemaking. We then finish our visit in the dinning room with a delightful home cooked meal. If you travel to Bordeaux during the harvest season, Wilfrid will gladly offer a taste from his fermentation vats or grapes fresh off the vines.
Wilfrid giving a tour at Chateau Carbonneau
Even in famed Saint Emilion we are able to get an “all-access pass” to the wineries. At DuVine we prefer to feature family owned estates – Châteaux where the owners are eager to share their knowledge with visitors. At Château Guadet, Guy-Petrus Lignac offers a visit of his family’s cave, carved in the limestone bedrock below. At Château Figeac, one of the few Premier Grand Cru Classé of Saint Emilion, a DuVine tour was able to meet Thierry Manoncourt, a legendary figure in the Bordeaux winemaking world, before he passed away this summer. Interestingly enough, he was showing off his collection of American wines, extremely proud of his friendship with Robert Mondavi.
And, as luck may have it, 2010 also featured a welcome by Jean-Charles Cazes who recently took over the helm, from his father, Jean-Michel, of Château Lynch-Bages. As a side note, Cordeillan-Bages, a luxury hotel that will be featured on the final night of our DuVine Bordeaux bicycle tour is right next door to the historic wine estate.
With inside knowledge of the region and connections to winemakers, DuVine Adventures is the ultimate way to travel in Bordeaux. We have great new bikes for the 2011 season, beautiful cycling routes and guides that are willing to go the extra mile to make your vacation as relaxing as possible.
