CHATEAU LAFITTE
(the closest we got was this picture from our bus)

READY FOR ACTION AND A WONDERFUL DINNER AT BRAINAIRE-DUCRU

2 CENTURY OLD WINE SCALE AT
LYNCH-BAGES

THE TASTING ROOM AT
LYNCH-BAGES

MS. SCHYLER POURING WINE FOR OUR TASTING PLEASURE AT KIRWAN

THE TASTING ROOM WITH THE VINES IN THE BACKGROUND AT
PRIERE-LICHINE

LAURENT, OUR GUIDE AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE UNDERGROUND CAVES AT CHATEAU DE LA RIVIERA

TASTING AT PETIT VILLAGE

Not long ago, after 3 years of work, the Chateau Petit Village in Pomerol unveiled its sleek new winery and visitor center. For Pomerol, this really is a big deal, because today there are almost no wineries that are truly easy to visit, especially unannounced. This chateau is owned by AXA Millesimes (also owners of Chateau Pichon Baron in Pauillac and Chateau Suduiraut in Sauternes), and run by Christian Seely and technical director Daniel Llose.
Many of the ideas for the architecture came from Rioja, where architecture in the wineries has been taken to an art form. The new tanks are all made from cement, which are seeing a return to popularity in Bordeaux, after years when they were taken out to make way for stainless steel. Of course, this being Petit Village, the cement tanks here are entirely black and look like art installations.
Its success is due to its highly unique soil. Clay helps provide regular nourishment to the vines, and gravel gives the wine finesse. Iron oxide and mineral salts present in the sub-soil also contribute towards the wine's special character. The wine of Petit-Village is smooth, powerful and flavorsome.

WITH OUR GUIDE CELINE AT PETIT VILLAGE

CHATEAU FIGEAC                                 (4 KM west of St-Emilion)

Figeac is a very ancient estate, going back at least as far as the 2nd century AD, during the Gallo-Roman period, when a certain Figeacus gave his name to a villa he built on this location. The site has been continually inhabited ever since then, as proved by vestiges: a water-supply system dating from the Gallo-Roman period, foundations of buildings from the Middle Ages with defensive walls, and the remains of a Renaissance chateau reflected in the present-day chateau's great door and tower.
Figeac has belonged to the same family for more than 500 years, and was nearly 200 hectares by the late 18th century. Unfortunately, the estate was sold a number of times in the 19th century. Successive owners sold numerous plots, which explains the birth of various chateaux that appended the name Figeac to their own. Figeac continues to be the largest estate in the commune of Saint-Emilion, with 40 hectares of vines. The central part of the chateau, built in a very pure, classical architectural style, dates from the late 18th century.

THE BARREL ROOM AT CHATEAU FIGEAC

CHATEAU
MONBAZILLAC

There are many glorious chateaux in the Dordogne, most well established on the tourist trail. The Chateau de Monbazillac is not only off the beaten track, but is also responsible for one of the finest dessert wines in the country.

Built in the 16th century, the chateau, symmetrical and perfectly preserved, exhibits the classic French characteristics of soaring steep roofs and high dormer windows. It also boasts one of the finest restaurants in the country and a Wine Museum (Musée du Vin).

The modern Monbazillac cellars, responsible for a third of all recent and present-day Monbazillac vintages since 1960, are located 2km from the chateau. Monbazillac is made from a combination of Sémillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle grapes. The sweet taste associated with the grapes is created by the encouragement of the Botritys Cinerea fungus responsible for "Noble Rot" that occurs in sufficiently humid conditions - the vines in the region are swamped in the mists that rise from the Dordogne river.
A visit to the chateau involves a full tour, and at the end, wine tasting at the chateau store, a place to purchase Monbazillac and other Bergerac wines, as well as many local Périgord gourmet products (foie gras and conserves, stuffed prunes and walnut oil), as well as fine delicacies and fine wines from other parts of France. 

CHATEAU LAGRÉZETTE                       (8 KM NW of Cahors in Caillac))

Known as the best undiscovered French wines is the appellation of Cahors, which has a history dating back to the Roman times. The key grape here is variously known as Auxerrois, Côt or Malbec, and legally must represent 70% of the blend – the balance is made up with Merlot, or less commonly Tannat. Historically, Cahors had a reputation for producing dark, heavy wines, which are known as “the black wine” that were often used to bolster less substantial wines from Bordeaux. Today, the traditional "black wine" is now rare, as wine-making methods have changed to produce a softer wine that is drinkable more quickly. About 30 million bottles are produced on 4200 HA.
To get a feel for Cahors wine, when you visit the Pont Valentre bridge, situated opposite the bridge is Lagrazette Cave (an outlet of Château Lagrézette). Here you will find reasonably priced Cahors wines at €6 a bottle alongside rare aged Cahors wines for up to €1600 a bottle. Chateau Lagrazette became a national monument in 1982.

WITH JEAN AT CHATEAU LAGRAZETTE NEAR CAHORS

CHATEAUX DE MERCUES                  (19 KM north of Cahors in Mercues)

CHATEAU DE MERCUES

When Georges Vigouroux, winemaker in Cahors, acquired the Château de Mercuès in 1983, not only did he decide to turn it into one of the finest castles/hotels in France, but he also turned it into a prestigious wine estate with a 32 hectares vineyard and an underground winery and ageing cellar under the castle’s terrace.
The first grapes were harvested in the autumn of 1987. Since that year, each vintage has contributed to make Château de Mercuès famous worldwide as a flagship of the Malbec grape and a great vineyard of the Cahors Appellation, and member of the exclusive “Grands Vins Seigneurs” Association.  Chateau Haut-Serre, which is located about 15 KM south of Cahors near  Cieurac, is also owned by the George Vigouroux family.
This is the chateau we didn't visit. 

This winery is a modest family owned affair, located just a few KM from the town of Gaillac in the village of Brens. On the local pebble and gravel slopes, the vines benefit from exceptional exposure to the sun. Since October 1998, the Domaine has been the property of Jean and Kai Gervais. They immediately threw themselves into a large-scale vineyard and winery modernization program with the single aim of bringing out the excellent ageing qualities of the wines of the estate, whilst preserving all their charm and personality.
We found the domaine's reds and whites to be remarkably tasty and drinkable. The reds have a brilliant garnet-red color, with lots of fruit and aromas (blackberry and spices) and very well-balanced tannins. The white we tasted was rounded and balanced, with a bouquet of flowers and fresh fruit. We bought several bottles even though we had no more space in our suitcases. They make a rosè as well, although we didn't taste it. Excellent value for money here. They produce about 55,000 bottles annually.

DOMAINE
DE PIALENTOU

CHATEAU LASTOURS                      (west of Gaillac near Lisle-sur-Tarn)

WITH HUBERT, AT
CHATEAU LASTOURS

With a long driveway lined with plane trees and a majestic approach, the Chateau Lastours immediately breathes of art de vivre. An old estate of the 18th century, the owners, the Faramond family, offer their visitors an experience that is both historical and oenological.
Tours of the winery, informative wine tastings, historical commentary on the estate, the gardens and the dovecote; these are all the ingredients for a very pleasant visit in a beautiful and authentic setting. Our tour was conducted by owner Hubert, who was very entertaining and cordial. We bought wine here too. 
The vineyard stretches out around the winery, covering forty hectares of gravelly lands, which lend the wines their refinement and make them ideally suited for aging.