Fronsac's flagship estate with 60 hectares and a spectacular 16th-century underground cave network. Known for structured, Merlot-dominant wines with Right Bank elegance.
Signature wines: Chateau de la Riviere
Scores: Decanter 93 (2018), Wine Advocate 92 (2019)
Address: Chateau de la Riviere, 33126 La Rivière, France, Bordeaux
Cotes de Bourg cult wine from Francois Mitjavile, creator of Le Tertre-Roteboeuf. 10 hectares on limestone slopes; Merlot-led blends with remarkable concentration and minerality.
Tasting: By appointment only.
Signature wines: Chateau Roc de Cambes
Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2005), Decanter 95 (2018)
Canon-Fronsac estate with 6.75 hectares of Merlot and Malbec on clay-limestone slopes over molasse, farmed organically (Ecocert) with biodynamic methods.
Tasting: Visits and tastings available by appointment.
Signature wines: Chateau Moulin Pey-Labrie
Scores: Wine Advocate 92 (2019), Decanter 91 (2018)
Moulis-en-Medoc Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel with 100 hectares. Named for Baudelaire's 'chase away the blues'; Cabernet-dominant with excellent value-to-quality ratio.
Tasting: Visits and tastings available.
Signature wines: Château Chasse-Spleen, L'Héritage de Chasse-Spleen
Scores: Wine Advocate 93 (2016), Decanter 93 (2019)
Haut-Medoc Cru Bourgeois that many consider above its classification. 85 hectares of Cabernet-dominant vines; Jean Gautreau's uncompromising quality standard since 1969.
Tasting: Cellar visits available by appointment.
Signature wines: Château Sociando-Mallet, La Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet
Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2016), Decanter 94 (2018)
Premier Cru Classe Bordeaux at Margaux AOC, estate founded 1572, now owned by the Mentzelopoulos family. Cabernet-dominant blends with 18 to 24 months in new oak barrel ageing.
Tasting: By appointment only, Monday to Friday; closed weekends, August, public holidays and harvest. Tasting for professionals only.
Signature wines: Château Margaux, Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux, Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux
Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (2016), Wine Advocate 100 (2015)
First-growth Pauillac estate with 112 hectares of Cabernet-dominant vines. Owned by the Rothschild family; fully organic since 2024 with Saskia de Rothschild at the helm.
Tasting: Currently closed for renovations until 2026. Alternative visits at Chateau Duhart-Milon.
Signature wines: Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Carruades de Lafite
Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (2003), Wine Spectator 100 (1996)
After a tour of the property, discover 3 French wines and 3 French cheeses for perfect pairings.
Enjoy a guided tasting at La Closerie de Fronsac, learn about Bordeaux winemaking, and sample four estate wines with the cellar master.
Discover St-Emilion on a guided village tour, followed by a guided visit and tasting of 3-4 wines with a French aperitif platter at a Grand Cru Classé estate, among th...
Wine tastings and winery visits in Bordeaux (88) · Wine tours and day trips in Bordeaux (137) · Wine and cheese tastings in Bordeaux (25) · Wine tours by bike in Bordeaux (18)
