The Bordeaux 2024 harvest has been brought in under challenging circumstances.

September was less than gracious with unseasonable low temperatures and much rain.

One thing is sure: 2024 is going to be a wine makers’ vintage.

Strict selection will be the determining factor for the quality of the wines.

Many of my winemaker friends told me that they had been “bosser comme des ânes”.

This is French for: working like donkeys. Or like we would say: working their butts off.

The yields will be low, especially for the chateaux that applied the strict selection necessary in vintages like 2024.

More about this challenging vintage in next year’s Bordeaux Special on the Vintage 2024.

The best compliment we can get
On a more positive note, our guests on the 2024 Harvest Tours had a great time.

One of the best compliments we can get is guests coming back to us and even bringing friends or family with them to enjoy the experience together.

Jim and Vergie were with us for the third time this year.

By the way, Jim and Virgie will be back in 2025 for their fourth experience!

It was a pleasure meeting their daughter Cresilda and her husband.

That this pleasure was mutual may show from their comments after their experience with us:

“Thank you for a wonderful week and your hospitality.

Rodney and I had a great experience, and amazing moments shared with my parents, Jim and Virgie Moir.

As well as meeting new people. We loved learning a lot about Bordeaux and all the special chateaux.

The food, the wine and culture. I’ll never forget.

Looking forward to planning a future trip to Bordeaux and visiting you both again.

Take care and love always,”

Cresilda and Rodney
(The 2024 Bordeaux Harvest Tour 2)

Farewell Dinner with dream wines

One of the many highlights on our tours is the Farewell Dinner.

Here we taste some incredible Bordeaux wines that most people only can dream of.

This year we experienced an even more exceptional tasting than usual.

And I simply feel the need to tell you about it, because it was so special.

                     __________

You can still join us in 2025

Last rooms for September 2025
We have two single rooms for the Bordeaux Grand Cru Harvest Tours in September 2025.

Last rooms for May 2025
And we have a two last double ant two single rooms for the Bordeaux Grand Cru Tours in May and June 2025.

That’s it, folks!
So, ask for your itinerary here because you will have the time of your life, and there are just these few options left.

Solo travelers love our tours

On each of our tours we have one single room (without single supplement of course).

Single travelers are always welcome on our tours.

Just click on the picture to see a short video where single travelers tell you about their Bordeaux Wine Experience with us.

Pick up one of these last spots and do it now. Life is short and you’re worth it!

See you soon in Bordeaux!

An unforgettable Farewell Dinner

The last night of the last day of each of our week tours is a happy highlight and a bit of a sad moment at the same time.

Of course, we’re all sad that the tour is almost over.

But even with that afterthought, this meal remains one of the unbeatable highlights of a week packed with surprises and other experiences.

A bonding experience

At the end of the week the group of guests have bonded in a way that, even after more than 20 years of conducting these tours, never ceases to amaze me.

As a result of this newly found bond this somewhat formal dinner turns into one of the most relaxed meals of the trip.

300-year-old Chateau Coulon Laurensac

For the Farewell Dinner we invite our guests into our own private dining room in our 300-year-old Chateau Coulon Laurensac.

Here we dine at our dining room table that outdates the 1855 Classification by more than a decade!

What shall I say about the culinary experience? Of course our private chef conjures delicious dishes, working with seasonable fresh ingredients.

But, it will be the wines that are at the forefront here.

The wines are the centerpiece
The Farewell Dinner is a meal that is designed to let the wines shine.

And shine these wines do! I will not get into all wines we taste, because I want to keep some surprises for when you are here.

One wine, that is usually one of the preferred wines of our guest, often is my favorite too: Chateau Margaux 1985.

Chateau Margaux 1985, a highlight
We are tasting this wine that has been ageing in my cellar for a few decades. Even at almost 40-years-old, this wine still is exuberant and fresh.

This was, by the way, it’s the same wine Margaret and I enjoyed so much at the gala dinner at Chateau Margaux.

This was back in 2015 when Margaux celebrated the fact that the chateau was constructed 2 centuries ago.

Don’t worry, our Farewell Dinner is no gala-dinner, so leave your tuxedos and evening gowns at home?.

More highlights

Another tradition is that we always end the last meal of the last day of the tour with a final great wine.

And that can only be the Superior First Growth Chateau d’Yquem, of couse of an older vintage.

Speak about going out with a bang!

Special moments that I will never forget
We always invite our guests to bring a bottle of their own to our farewell dinner.

Often guests bring bottles from where they live. Sometimes they bring bottles that have a special meaning for them.

Tears
I still remember one of our guests, an elderly gentleman, who brought the last bottle from a series he used to enjoy with his late wife.

He had been hesitating when and with whom to share his last bottle that carried so much dear memories for him.

And he decided that the Farewell Dinner would be the most fitting moment to open and share this bottle.

I can tell you, when he told his story at the dinner table, there were tears in many eyes; including mine.(his wine was much appreciated, by the way).

Special bottles to compare, not compete
Sometime guests bring special Bordeaux wines that have a certain meaning for them.

I find it difficult to select bottles to mention here as there have been so many special ones.

Why so difficult? Well, because it is not a contest, but the pleasure of sharing great wines with even greater new friends.

It is about comparing wines; not about competing.

Aged Bordeaux, and still singing
Having said that, four wines stood out for me last time.

If you have been following my newsletter for a while you’ll know that I have a preference for older wines.

As a result, it will not come as a surprise that I loved the Chateau Montrose 1986, 2e Grand Cru Classé, AOC Saint Estèphe.

Still singing with the hallmark Saint Estèphe tannic structure, albeit now beautifully evolved, but still present.
(Thank you, return-guests Paul and Lori).

Mind-blowing
The second I want to mention here is the Latour à Pomerol 1982.

This wine was simply mind-blowing. It was probably the richest and concentrated Latour à Pomerol since 1961.

A monumental wine that proves that Merlot-based wines from the right(bank?) terroir can age very well.
(Thank you John and Scott).

Another exceptional wine we tasted was Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 1966, 2e Grand Cru Classé, AOC Pauillac.

The wine was ripe, tender and delicate and made me think of a Saint Julien at first.

The wine evolved quickly in the glass, but what a pleasure tasting such a delicate, mature wine.
(Thank you Glenn and Kristen).

Even a bigger bang
Glenn and Kristen brought another phenomenal and rare wine: Chateau d’Yquem 1975.

This incredible wine followed the Yquem 1988 that had been ageing for decades in my own cellar.

I will quote Robert Parker’s notes here:

Yquem 1988 (99 points Parker)
This is simply a remarkable wine. The light golden dress seems younger than of his predecessor.

Its large but retained bouquet seems to combine strength and sweetness with great power. Subtle notes of coconut, orange marmalade, crème brulée, peach and corn.

The palate is expressed with an increasing magnitude, developing a complexity and a power of excellent quality.

Relatively aerial despite its corpulence and its very great richness in extraction.

This wine is simply sensational and stands out as one of the most grandiose examples of this vintage.

It makes me think more of the 1975 than of recent vintages.
Drink between 2010 and 2070.

Yquem 1975 (100 points Parker)
The 1975 embodies perfection. Very slow to evolve.

t reminds me of its predecessors like 1937 and 1921, which imposed themselves as legends of their century.

With a pale golden yellow, endowed with a restrained but irresistible bouquet with notes of smoke, creamy peach, pineapple, apricot, and hazelnut, nuance of marmalade, coconut and crème brulée.

All this expressed with an increasing magnitude, to finish on a finale which never seems to want to fade.

This wine, which constitutes a real tour de force, is one of the most grandiose Yquem’s ever produced.
Drink between 2015 and 2075.

(Thank you again Glenn and Kristen).

A white Pichon Baron
The Médoc region is well known for the famous Classified Growths from the 1855 Classification.

This classification only included red wines and therefore the whites from this region where never at the forefront.

Some famous dry whites
There are some famous white wines from the Médoc like the Pavillion Blanc de Chateau Margaux, or Mouton Rothschild’s Aile d’Argent, for example.

New in the Médoc
Second Classified Growth Pichon Baron followed this movement. Les Griffons de Pichon Baron Grand Vin Blanc Sec, a 100% Semillon, will be priced around € 55 per bottle.

In 2018, the estate selected Semillon cuttings from Château Suduiraut, its sister property in Sauternes.

(Both chateaux are owned by the Axa insurance company).

These were grafted onto 20-year-old vines in Pauillac’s chalky part of the vineyard, locally known as “Boua“.

This white wine was produced using whole bunch pressing and vinified in one-year-old barrels, without undergoing malolactic fermentation.

The wine was aged for nine months in oak, with regular lees stirring to enhance its texture and complexity.

The appellations Pauillac, or even Médoc are restricted to red wines.

As a result, this new white wine will be an AOC Bordeaux Blanc Sec, like all other white wines produced in the Médoc.

Personally, I look forward to tasting his newborn white wine soon.

This is definitely one of the most exclusive tours that we offer. Embark on the Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour, an experience that exudes opulence in every aspect, from exquisite cuisine to exceptional wines.

Indulge in chateau-meals that transcend ordinary dining, offering an exclusive and luxurious culinary journey.

The gastronomic delights are nothing short of extraordinary, featuring exclusive meals set in remarkable venues typically inaccessible to the public.

Immerse yourself in a world of culinary opulence, where each bite is a testament to the artistry of Bordeaux’s culinary tradition.

As if that weren’t enough, the tour presents a rare opportunity to taste all five First Growths of over 20 years old, plus the Superior First Growth Chateau d’Yquem of over 30 years old!

The combination of exclusive dining, exceptional wines, and the opportunity to savor aged vintages makes this tour a cherished and unforgettable journey for those seeking the epitome of Bordeaux’s culinary and oenophilic excellence.

What makes it even more special is the inclusion of older vintages, adding a unique dimension to the wine-tasting experience.

It’s no wonder that the Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour has earned its status as a beloved favorite.

The Bordeaux Grand Cru Harvest Tour
Behold one of our most exclusive tours, a wine lover’s dream come true in the heart of Bordeaux.

This ultimate wine tour promises an unparalleled experience, setting the bar for perfection.

The pinnacle of excitement in Bordeaux unfolds during harvest time, a period where anticipation permeates the air, and the vineyards come alive with energy.

Prepare to be amazed as you savor the exquisite taste of all five First Growths of over 20 years old plus the distinguished Superior First Growth Chateau d’Yquem of over 30 years old! 

The tour doesn’t stop there; it extends to include the best offerings from Saint Emilion and Pomerol, featuring many older vintages.

Elevating the experience further are the outstanding meals meticulously curated at exceptional venues rarely accessible to the public.

It’s this combination of extraordinary tastings and exclusive gastronomic adventures that places this tour in such high demand, creating an irresistible allure for Bordeaux enthusiasts seeking the epitome of wine, culinary excellence, and the unique charm of harvest season.

It’s no surprise that the Bordeaux Grand Cru Harvest Tour has become a cherished favorite.