Wine Tour France

Bordeaux , France 8 days

For 2009 we will be returning to visit the Bordeaux region, the great, fine wine capital of the world. Our destinations will be full of varied interest whether finely honed Cabernet driven reds to searingly refreshing modern Sauvignon/Semillons or lusciously rich desert wines, we will taste them all! The majority of our lunches will be taken at the Chateaux coupled with a deft selection of original wines all chosen to match the excellent cuisine offered with passion and know-how as you would expect from the chef’s and Chateaux patrons of Bordeaux.

On Saturday we sail from Plymouth to Roscoff in Brittany on the overnight ferry. A cabin is provided. Next day we drive southwards through Brittany to Nantes and then through the Vendée and thus to Bordeaux and the central Hotel Mercure where we check in for five nights. Dinner will be at the hotel tonight.
On Monday we start our tour with a visit to the Medoc and the excellent Chateau Vieux Robin bordering on the Pauillac appellation. Lunch will follow at La Salamandre in Pauillac a lovely riverside location. Next we visit and taste at Chateau Hanteillan in the Cissac Medoc district after which we head back for Bordeaux on the D2 viewing the famous Chateaux on the way. Dinner at leisure this evening.
On Tuesday we head South East and the Premiere Cotes de Bordeaux and the rejuvenated Chateau Lezongars. Now run by Philip, Sarah and Russell Illes. Great strides have been made in all types of wine making proving a very popular wine in the UK. Lunch will be at the Chateau. In the afternoon we head for the Cadillac appellation and Chateau Lamothe de Haux where amongst others we taste the fabled dessert wines of this district. Dinner at leisure this evening.
Our free day to explore Bordeaux and do some shopping is on Wednesday and we’ll arrange a visit and tasting to a negociant in the morning in Bordeaux Chartons, the traditional wine merchants’ district – lunch at leisure – Afternoon free - Dinner at the hotel
On Thursday we head across the river towards Lalande au Pomerol and visit the immaculate Chateau Tournefeuille in Neac where we will taste and enjoy lunch at the Chateau. In the afternoon we head for St Emilion and Chateau Lanoite. Dinner at leisure this evening.
We leave Bordeaux on Friday and travel north to Cognac where we visit the famous Hennessy cellars. In the afternoon we continue northwards to Fontenay-le-Compte for our overnight at the rural Hotel Le Rabelias. We have dinner at the hotel We make an early start on Saturday and drive into Brittany and thus to Roscoff to catch the 15.00 sailing to Plymouth which reaches England around 2030. On arrival the coach returns to the original pick up points.

Cost includes: all travel by executive coach; cross Channel sailing ;six nights accommodation in 3* hotels with buffet breakfast; three dinners and three lunches; all excursions and visits; services of Stephen Barrett as Tour Escort.

Departure date

Single supplement £120

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