Today was spent on Bordeaux's right bank as we got to grips with Pomerol and Saint Emilion. 2012 is looking like a re-run of maybe 2001 - or even 1998 - at some properties here.
Edouard Moueix with Stephen Browett and the team
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First stop was the offices of JP Moueix and a tasting of several top Pomerols and, of course, their Saint Emilion Belair-Monange, whose vineyard has now been slightly enlarged by the addition of the best vines of the now defunct Chateau Magdelaine.
Our next visit was to Pétrus - yet another Chateau where the builders are in residence. Berrouet Père et Fils were happy to show off a wine that they compare favourably to the great 1998 produced here.
Tasting at Cheval Blanc
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Just down the road, our next stop was at Cheval Blanc where the builders have been and gone. The stunning new winery looks amazing and the wine that it has produced is excellent too.
Thomas and Tom at Ausone
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After a final UGC tasting at Soutard we completed the tour of the three other Saint Emilion First Growths (yes there are four of them now). Ausone, of course, and now Pavie and Angélus. Both of these promoted Chateaux are undergoing major building works with Angélus installing an incredible bell tower that should look amazing when finished.
Tasting Angélus with Hubert de Bouard
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Gerard Perse at Pavie
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Our final visit of the day was to our old friend Francois Mitjavile and son Louis at Le Tertre Roteboeuf. This visit always lifts our spirits and reminds us that Saint Emilion doesn't have to be concentrated to be great.
Francois Mitjavile at Tertre Roteboeuf
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It was then back on the bus and off to the airport. Our 2012 tasting notes will appear on our website within the next week or two. We hope that prices will be down which should make the vintage's best wines well worth buying.
