Château Soutard was the first of two wineries I visited on my wine tour with Bordovino. They are a larger winery, but not quite flashy as some of these proud Bordeaux Châteaus can be.
For those that care, Soutard has rating of Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. Our tour guide explained this was the third of three possible tiers, but even being in the lowest tier puts them in the top 10% of wineries in the Right Bank. Many more wines can qualify for the Grand Cru label but not all are created equal.
The outside facilities looked deceptively plain, but the inside was where it was at. The highlight was riding a gigantic silent glass elevator for transporting barrels underground which they affectionately called "James Bond."
Our guide led us on a thorough one hour tour, capped off with a tasting of two reds in their downstairs tasting room. After the tasting, we were free to browse the upstairs tasting room and shop. I liked that they didn't push any bottles on us.
While I enjoyed the tour, the two wines I tried didn't call out to me. Maybe I'm biased, but top Napa Valley spots are producing Bordeaux style wines that rival the French. Overall though, this detailed tour was good for those wanting a view into the strict process for Bordeaux Grand Cru Classé certification. read more