Today we began our Bordeaux journey, following the Medoc area and visit a few chateaux. After a short ride we arrived at Margaux, and even though it was not our destination, we dropped by a few GCC like Chateau Giscours, in which we saw a big group of Chinese tourists just arriving!
Since it was a bit early, Alice brought us also to Chateau Margaux to take a few photos. I actually visited the same place two years ago and it was just like yesterday.
Then we went to our first tasting of the day - Chateau Lascombes. Upon arriving we were shown the vineyard, and tasting the ripening Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot berries. Afterwards we went inside the winery to look at the wine-making facilities, which they were in the process of cleaning and getting prepared for the coming harvest.
Feeling hungry, we went for lunch at the famous Lion d'Or restaurant, where a lot of the chateau owners frequented. They kept their wines in the restaurant, and one could see many cabinets displaying their 'wares', which easily cost a fortunate with some very good and older vintages of the first growths, and some super seconds plus other renown ones. The wife of the restaurant owner served us a good meal of fish and other local delicacies.
After lunch we continued to Pauillac, and on the way took some photos of the famous first growths, like Lafite and Latour, before arriving at our next stop, Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron. Used to be under the same family, it was split up in the 19th century, with the brothers taking the Baron part and the daughters the Lalande part. Remaining separated, Pichon Baron is now acquired by AXA, and the investment could be readily seen from the modern facility and well-maintained estate.
Again, we went to visit the cellar and the guide also showed us the laboratory where the chateau analyzed the wines and control the blending. It would be good if they could show us the actual operations there. We then tasted a few wines, including the still in-barrel 2011. It is not something nice to drink, too tannic and acidic, and it amazed me how the wine critics could give an assessment of the future quality of the wine by tasting this?
Proceeding to the cellar, there were rows and rows of barrels of the 2011 vintage, with new barrels also being delivered for the 2012 vintage. Completing the tour, we moved back to the tasting room and try the first and second wine, Chateau Lascombes 2004 and Chevalier de Lascombes 2007. Frankly they were nice but not exceptional, and since it could be bought quite readily in HK I did not buy any.
Feeling hungry, we went for lunch at the famous Lion d'Or restaurant, where a lot of the chateau owners frequented. They kept their wines in the restaurant, and one could see many cabinets displaying their 'wares', which easily cost a fortunate with some very good and older vintages of the first growths, and some super seconds plus other renown ones. The wife of the restaurant owner served us a good meal of fish and other local delicacies. 
After lunch we continued to Pauillac, and on the way took some photos of the famous first growths, like Lafite and Latour, before arriving at our next stop, Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron. Used to be under the same family, it was split up in the 19th century, with the brothers taking the Baron part and the daughters the Lalande part. Remaining separated, Pichon Baron is now acquired by AXA, and the investment could be readily seen from the modern facility and well-maintained estate. 
Frankly the winery and cellar were very similarly set up as Lascombes but with a grander and more modern scale, and we moved quickly to the tasting, trying Chateau Pibran 2007, the second wine Les Tourelles de Longueville 2006 and Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron 2004. I like the 2004 with a strong intensity and showing beautiful development, prompting me to consider when I will open the same bottle I got at home.
Continuing further we went to St-Julien, coming to the last stop - Chateau Branaire-Ducru. We walked around the estate and bumped into a gentleman jogging. Originally thinking whether he is the owner, it turned out he is the chief gardener and he showed us his orchard and gave each of us an apple from the tree. I have never tasted such sweet and juicy apple before, honestly.
Again, we went to visit the cellar and the guide also showed us the laboratory where the chateau analyzed the wines and control the blending. It would be good if they could show us the actual operations there. We then tasted a few wines, including the still in-barrel 2011. It is not something nice to drink, too tannic and acidic, and it amazed me how the wine critics could give an assessment of the future quality of the wine by tasting this?
Returning to the downtown, we got some spare time to wander around the area, finally settling on a restaurant for dinner (which I also visited two years ago). Decent, but nothing special, we did enjoy the time and settled for the night, for the last day tomorrow in Bordeaux.
(to be continued...)
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