Well, Julian, you made me do it. In late August - early September my wife and I will be on a cruise that will have a day and an evening in Bordeaux. Unfortunately, the day is a Saturday when many wineries are closed, but I have contacted Henri Challeau to take me around again My trip to Bordeaux - WINE TALK - WineBerserkers and he has come up with some good places that are available. First, he has made us an appointment at D’Issan, a must see after your wonderful description of your visit there.
And, I will need to pick two others from the following list for other places to visit that day. The boat docks in Pauillac, so we will only be going to the Medoc. The places he has said that are open on Saturdays are Leoville Poyferre, Gruaud-Larose, Branaire Ducru, Beychevelle, Brainare Ducru, Lagrange, Pichon Baron, Lynch Bages, Haut Bages Liberal, Pédesclaux and Boyd Cantenac (among classified growths), and wineries not classified like Teynac, du Glana, la Bridane, Domaine des Sadons and Pouget. Apparently, one advantage to the last two is that the owner would be giving us the tour. I have never heard of any of these non-classified growths so ask whether any of them make good wines and how the visits are?
My thinking is that since I visited Pichon Baron and Lynch Bages the last time we were in Bordeaux, we would try something else this time - although apparently Lynch Bages has what Henri termed quite amazing new facilities.
If I were just going by wineries where I have tasted and loved the wines, I could easily pick among these, but as you said Julian, some wineries are more fun to visit than others and this is where I need help from you and others. Has anyone visited any of these places and what are the visits like? I am looking at Jeff Leve’s wonderful website on Bordeaux and just from a quick look last night I found that Chateau Haut Bages Liberal and Chateau Gruaud Larose are owned by the same people. The owners apparently also own Chateau Ferriere and Chateau Chasse Spleen, among other properties. I plan to ask Henri whether it would be possible to taste the wines from more than one property if I go to one of these - I know that when we tasted a couple of wines at Chateau Ferriere last time we went we also got to try a Haut Bages Liberal there also.
Any thought from anyone where I should visit in addition to D’Issan?