I thought that I had booked a small group tour and tasting here only to find midway through we were…read morejoined by a large bus tour group. This totally changed the feel of the tour as the large group socialized, took campy photos, and made the tasting experience crowded and chaotic. Our charming guide, Rodrigo, did his best to manage the large group, which we appreciate. The tasting was just okay, no chance to explain much about the wine, no water or small snacks to cleanse the palate and no offers to taste anything special or extra. My husband and I have been on wine tours all around the world and have never experienced anything like this. Typically I do book independent tours or private guides, but we only had one day in Bordeaux and thought this might give us a flavor of the region in a shorter time frame. I recommend that the management provide large groups their own guide and space so as not to impact the experience of other guests. If you are looking for a more personal experience this may not be worth your time.

Came here today for a wine tour and tasting. The tour was was wonderful. It was interesting and…read morethe grounds were beautiful. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and kept things moving. My biggest disappointment was the wine tasting. We tasted 3 wines. A white Bordeaux and 2 reds. I didn't care for any of them. I really wanted to like this and ship a case home but since the 3 I tasted we're not what I like, I left empty handed.

The last winery on our Bordeaux excursion! We got there a little past 3 in the afternoon, and from…read morethe looks of it, the winery staff was busy preparing for an event. Let me guess, the Vin Expo? Indeed it was according to our winery tour guide that afternoon. Both wineries we've visited earlier that day were also preparing for the Vin Expo like mad. Everyone in our group loved our guide. She was so bubbly and super nice. She had spent some time in Sonoma to earn a certificate for her wine studies, so she spoke English very well. We settled on doing a half-hour tour and tasting for 7€ with her. She took us outside and proceeded to describe the history of the vineyards, the Chateau and their current owner, who is incidentally an American banker. She showed us the vineyards, the chais and other parts of the winery. We ended the tour at the boutique where we tasted a couple of wines. The winery produces Grand Cru Classé wines and we were able to taste a 2007 vintage and one of their second wines. Both were excellent. The Grand Cru wine we tasted was going for 65€ and may be aged another 10 years according to our guide. After the tasting, we browsed in the botique and decided on buying a half case of their Rosé. Our group of 10 has been going through wine like crazy and the Rosé was 6 bottles for 50€. A great deal! We had no problem consuming all that in a couple of days along with the other wines we bought from the other places. When in France, drink lots of wine!

They were so nice to welcome us for lunch even if we were on a tight schedule. It is a gorgeous…read moreplace. The private table is very exclusive in fact. There's just two different dining room, a small one and a bigger one for small groups. The resident chef has built the menu to pair with the wines but in an unusual and daring way. The decadent reds were paired with decadent fishes dishes and very delicate courses. Even the dessert has the same shape as a sculture just outside the Castle. It was a memorable moment.

Our day of wine tasting in Bordeaux started at Chateau La Louvière! We arrived a little past 10 in…read morethe morning, so we were a few minutes late, but luckily they were very accommodating. We started the tour at the tasting room where our tour guide showed us the other châteaux owned by the same owner of Château La Louvière, André Lurton. He then led us outside to the back of the château where he explained its history. The oldest vines in the property date back to the 14th century, and the château was built in the 18th century and recently restored by the current owner in the 1950s. Our friendly guide was very thorough. He explained the whole process of making wine--from hand-picking and sorting the grapes, pressing, fermenting and storing. He showed us the different rooms where all these things happen, particularly the room where all the stainless steel vats are and the cellars where barrels of red and white wines are stored. The winery was busy preparing for the Vin Expo, so there was a lot of activity in one of the barrel rooms. We had two toddlers and 10 adults in our group, and though the toddlers were running around the place, not once did he express any displeasure at them. He was so nice! I think it helps that he's in his early 20s. He also seemed to appreciate all the questions people had. After the tour of the winery, he led us back to the tasting room, and proceeded to pour us wines. We thought we were only going to taste one red and one white, but he actually let us taste 5 different kinds of wine--2 whites (blends of mostly Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon), two reds (blends of 70 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 30 percent Merlot), and a sweet wine (a Sauterne). They were all good, but the château's grand vins (or first wine) were standouts. For 8€ per person, the tasting fee was a great value, and the wines themselves were very reasonable. Some of us bought wines to drink back at the château and some to take back to the States. I would definitely recommend this winery if you're in Bordeaux. The Pessac Léognan appellation is the oldest in the Bordeaux region, so they've been producing wines for a very long time! Make sure you book ahead of time via e-mail, which is what my sister did for our group of 12. Salut!

My wife and I ended at the Chateau by mistake as we booked a wine tasting at another nearby Chateau…read morewith a similar name but all the while intending to come to this location. Luckily we came on slow day and there wasnt any tasting going on so they were willing to accomodate us. Since it was just us, it was a very personal tasting experience and we ended up coming home with a couple of bottles. We knew that this was one of the most renouned Chateau's based on the fact that it was mentioned a few times in the TV show Frasier. I did also notice that the airport had a couple of bottles from the estate for sale but didnt look to see the price or which vintage. At the chateau they have a few vintages for sale so depending on your price point you could get certain years that were better than others. I guess will see if we ever open it or decide to sell it later if the price skyrockets.

Even though Ive accelerated my education on wine in recent years I can say I know still very little…read moreabout Bordeaux wines. Luckily while eating at a restaurant for a special dinner, the sommelier informs us that one of the other patrons has left them a bottle of 1986 Chareau Haut Brion and would like to share some with us. Holy moly! I dont know who this patron is but they can just afford to leave Haut Brion laying around? So we split a glass and it's certainly one of the more amazing wines I've ever tried. Earthiness and complexity in both the nose and palate are incredible. Im not sure Im wine educated enough to really describe whats truly going on. What is important is I like it and it's fantastic. I shouldnt get too attached though, it might be cheaper to have a drug habit

Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion is the easiest Bordeaux winery to reach form the city on Tram A and a…read moreshort walk. Reservations for group or individual tours are required. We found the tour and wine tasting by far the best of our three week stay in Bordeaux. The guide was professional, knowledgeable and friendly with excellent English language skills. The wine is world class. The grounds are beautiful and the ultra modern cellars and wine making facilities incredible. In addition to touring the Medoc and St Emilion, any trip to Bordeaux should include a visit to Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion.