Five châteaux to visit in the Médoc
A STAY AT COMO CORDEILLAN-BAGES MAKES THE IDEAL LENS THROUGH WHICH TO UNDERSTAND THE MÉDOC AS A WHOLE WRITES WINE WRITER GUY WOODWARD
With COMO Cordeillan-Bages acting as a geographical and experiential hub, guests can travel south by bicycle or chauffeured tour through Margaux’s refinement or north into St-Estèphe’s rugged authority.
Margaux
Château Giscours
With roots dating back to the 14th century and classified as a Troisième Cru Classé in 1855, Château Giscours embodies the elegance and finesse for which the Margaux appellation is known. Today, Giscours is held up in particular for its admirable approach to sustainability in the vineyard. It’s a philosophy that is evident throughout the property’s extensive grounds, which are home to all manner of biodiversity, including gardens, vegetable plots and animals. The ‘Life at Giscours’ tour covers all this and more, including a bespoke selection of wines and options for charcuterie accompaniments.
St-Julien
Château Gruaud-Larose
St-Julien is the first of the major communes you come to when driving up the Routes des Châteaux from the city of Bordeaux, and is the first time when the grandeur of the estates here takes full shape. It is a commune that is home to several large vineyards, including a clutch of second growths, of which Gruaud-Larose offers arguably the most extensive visitor offering. Tours range from a simple 30-minute overview to food-and-wine sessions within the living quarters of the palatial château itself.
Pauillac
Châteaux Pedesclaux
A fellow fifth growth based in Pauillac, for years that was about the only thing Château Pedesclaux had in common with Lynch-Bages. The property was somewhat neglected by previous owners – but then it was snapped up by the ambitious real-estate tycoon (and rugby kingpin) Jacky Lorenzetti (also part-owner of third growth Château d’Issan in Margaux).
Canny vineyard acquisitions and a modernisation of both château and cellar have seen quality rocket, and the contemporary makeover of the classical château façade is an apt indicator of its rebirth. Various different tours are available according to the extent of your interest and wallet, with the ‘Millésimes’ version involving a tasting of five different vintages. Sister property Lafon-Rochet, in St-Estèphe, offers a similar programme at the more understated but supremely good-value estate in the northernmost commune of the Médoc.
St-Estèphe
Château Phélan Ségur
Somewhat out on a limb in its northerly outpost, and without a first growth to bolster its profile, St-Estèphe is often unfairly overlooked compared to its fellow Médoc communes. The wines traditionally had a reputation as rather austere in their youth, but today that image is changing thanks in part to a stellar array of non-classified estates. Chief among them is Château Phélan Segur, whose estimable terroir affords views out to the Gironde Estuary. Tours here can focus on the vineyard or the cellar, or a little of both, and are often conducted by the vineyard manager or cellar master themselves.
Pauillac
Château Pichon Baron
Among the Médoc’s wealth of architecturally imposing châteaux, Château Pichon Baron arguably takes the crown as the most photogenic. A second growth that more than lives up to its status, it has been owned by the insurance group AXA for the last few decades, and has prospered under its ownership. Visits are relatively accessible via appointment, and include a tour of the vineyard as well as ‘vertical’ tastings of the property’s various wines across different vintages. More formal, tutored tastings of the ‘grand vin’ only are also available for those wanting to fully immerse themselves in the subject.
To find out more about our wine experiences and bespoke tours, please contact our concierge team at COMO Cordeillan-Bages.
