This weekend was for me jubilatory since I have tried for several years to encourage tourists to discover the lesser known northern part of Bordeaux vineyards that we call the « Côtes » : Côtes de Bourg and Blaye-Côtes de Bordeaux ...

Saturday, I was commissioned to guide a group of Chinese tour operators on the Gironde Corniche and through the Blaye citadel designed by Vauban and occupied this weekend by the now famous: Printemps des Vins de Blaye. After having pointed the stalls of the wineakers exporting their wines to the chinese market, you can guess that they appreciated the friendly atmosphere of the event!

Then Sunday, I was commissioned to welcome passengers of the river cruise company Ama Waterways, having a call in Blaye. So their American, Canadian or British passengers were able to enjoy the Printemps des Vins in a radiant sunshine ...

For me, it was the opportunity to meet winemakers that I did not know yet or to go to greet some knowledge ...

This is how I saw Isabelle and Christophe Chety from Château Mercier in Côtes de Bourg who recently acquired plots in Plassac in the appellation Blaye-Côtes-de-Bordeaux. 100% Merlot that they decided to age in amphoras! Beautiful discovery!

I also took the opportunity to greet Freddy Latouche from the Château Camille Gaucheraud refilling my personal stock of sweet Bordeaux (excellent value for money, rather rare on the northern part of the Bordeaux vineyards) . I also invested in this special cuvée in Vinification intégrale (everything is done in a barrel, from pouring the harvest until the final bottling) ... Not yet tasted but I will let you know about !

Meeting with the Château la Pérouse: delighted with the dry white, not too acid and wonderfully well balanced thanks to the Sauvignon Gris and muscadelle; 4.50 € of happiness to pair with a plate of fresh oysters! I also invested in a another small nugget: the cuvee "Empreinte" of Château La Pérouse and its 80% of malbec!

Other beautiful encounter with the Château Chante-Alouette-La Roseraie: discovery of a special "La Gustave", cuvée named in tribute to grandfather Gustave Sigogneaud; This 100% Cabernet wine produced from the oldest plots of vines is aged in new oak barrels.

I can’t wait until next year for new discoveries !