Chateau visit in Paulliac

[bourgogne_rouge]

I will only have time for one chateau visit on a Sunday morning later this month in Paulliac. Does anyone have any strong suggestions? I was looking at Lynch Bages, but almost think that may be too eno-touristy. Any thoughts. Thanks.

John

[Ptipois]

If it is open on a Sunday, Château Pontet-Canet is a strong suggestion.

If you are really into beautiful wine installations, the cellars of Château Duhart-Milon (in town) are interesting. I am not sure you can visit them directly by going there, perhaps you should make an appointment and call château Lafite-Rothschild before (Duhart-Milon belongs to them).
But my best recommendation would be Pontet-Canet if you wish to stay within Pauillac. A great place.

[bourgogne_rouge]

Thanks for the suggestion. I had just the same idea about Pontet-Canet, but surprisingly they are already completely booked for Sunday, May 29 and couldn't fit us in. :(

[Ptipois]

Have you tried Lafite-Rothschild? the cellars are wonderful.

Another good suggestion: Château Cos d'Estournel in Saint-Estèphe. It is really close.
Or perhaps Château Montrose, buildings not that great but better wine.

[bourgogne_rouge]

Hi Pitpois, great suggestions and I would like to see them both but it turns out that both Cos and Lafite are closed on weekends. So I'll keep looking. Maybe Lynch-Bages may be a good choice.

[Ptipois]

There's always Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste and Château Haut-Batailley in the back, both managed by François-Xavier Borie who is a great winemaker. Neither of them are the most famous of Pauillac grands crus classés but they are excellent wines. The setting is not much to write home about at Grand-Puy-Lacoste but I like the monumental, Neo-Basque buildings at Haut-Batailley. These might offer visits on weekends.
You might also want to try Château Pédesclaux, small château, great wine.

If not, perhaps you should try the South Pauillac region, like Pichon-Longueville (Comtesse) and Pichon-Longueville Baron, or even the Saint-Juliens which are pretty close to Pauillac: Beychevelle, Talbot, Gruaud-Larose, Branaire-Ducru, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Lagrange, Léoville-Barton and Langoa Barton (same ownership), Léoville-Poyferré, Léoville-Las-Cases, Saint-Pierre and Gloria...

[ChefJune]

I would recommend visiting St. Julien. That's where my favorite Bordeaux come from ;)

[Ptipois]

Saint-Juliens are indeed awesome. But all those Médoc wines are magical in their own right.

[JP2000]

You will need an appointment at the vast majority vineyards across Bordeaux and English is widely spoken. On balance I would choose Lynch Bages (€10?) because its convenient, 2 wines to taste, excellent cafe/restaurant (wines by glass) plus some upmarket shops.

The Pontet Canet tour is free and extremely interesting, they take you a large golf buggy around the vineyard. Only drawback was one wine tasted which was a shame as I'd happily pay to try older vintages. P-C is a fifth growth though priced considerably higher.

We bought most wine from Ch. Cissac (cru bourgeois) which is 4km N/W of Paulliac because they had a good selection of older vintages and they offer considerable value for money. Obviously Cissac isn't a classed growth and wouldn't have the grandeur of more famous places.