Saint-Emilion – wine tour without red noses

A detour to the largest contiguous wine-growing region for quality wine is part of a visit to Bordeaux. And since I’m not a wine expert, I didn’t choose the most exclusive wineries based on intensive research, but on the basis of the prettiest villages in the area. Makes sense, doesn’t it?! And Saint-Emilion is clearly ahead of the game. The wine-growing area of the picturesque town, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, is part of the core area of the right bank of the Gironde and Dordogne, together with Pomerol. Wine lovers and wine lovers alike will get their money’s worth here.

Admittedly, I felt like a banausin between the fine wooden barrels and classified wines. After all, the patron of Château Laniote took it with humor when I dryly replied to him after a strong sip of his “Grand Cru Classé” wine that I was not a Merlot friend. That was, of course, an exaggeration. I am well known for my loose and threadbare mouth. Before that, we went to Château Franc-Mayne and sipped two different variations of Bordeaux wines. Both of them knocked me off my feet as much as the one from Château Laniote. Too “complicated” for my taste. This may be due to my lack of enthusiasm for Merlot wines (my preference is for Pinot) or my inability to taste the individual flavors. A day later, at dinner at le Bouchon Bordelais, it turned out that the pigeonholing of Bordeaux wines cannot be done per se in “I don’t like it”. The Château Le Grand Verdus from the fruity Médoc region tasted great to me.

The takeaway: a half-day wine tour to the heart of the Bordeaux wine-growing regions is no guarantee for testing outstanding wines. But it at least gives a first glimpse of the diversity of all the wineries. At the latest while strolling through the pretty alleys of Saint-Emilion, I forgave the tasted wine its bitter taste.

Note: Our trip to Bordeaux was supported by Bordeaux Tourisme. Thank you very much for this! As always, my readers can be sure that I always represent my views and enthusiasm.