Exploring the Pessac wine region: a look back at our Christmas U'wine Tour

Château Picque Caillou: an enchanting stopover 

Our first stop was at Château Picque Caillou, run by Paulin Calvet. The estate is located in the prestigious Bordeaux region, and embodies viticultural excellence with its vineyards stretching majestically across the hillsides on the left bank of the Garonne.  

For our visit, the estate unveiled its jewels, featuring Château Picque Caillou Blanc from the 2018, 2019 and 2020 vintages. Then the reds, from the 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020 vintages. Each one told the story of its terroir with intensity and elegance, awakening our palates to the diversity of Pessac.

What our U'wine-Makers think 

• Château Picque Caillou Blanc 2018 : rich, expressive nose with sweet floral notes and marked minerality. Fleshy, energetic palate with persistent aromas, a well-balanced wine. 
• Château Picque Caillou Blanc 2019  : pale colour, discreet nose with notes of ripe fruit and spices. Tasty on the palate, with a long finish. 
• Château Picque Caillou Blanc 2020 : spicy and fruity aromas on the nose, slightly fluid but energetic on the palate, short finish. 
• Château Picque Caillou 2016 : a well-balanced, rich and elegant wine, with classic blackcurrant flavours accentuated by woody ageing, offering a hint of smoke. 
• Château Picque Caillou 2017 : delicate nose combining fruit, spices and minerality, silky tannins and liveliness. Harmonious, a fine success for the vintage. 
• Château Picque Caillou 2019  : notes of blackcurrant, cherry and chocolate, tight, medium-bodied palate. Round, creamy and persistent. 
• Château Picque Caillou 2020 : marked relief, concentrated fragrance of black cherries, fresh blackberries and lilac. Medium-bodied, intense and fresh on the palate, with a long, lively finish.

Château Pape Clément: sublime elegance 

Valentin Pascaud then welcomed us to Château Pape Clément. This historic jewel of the Pessac-Léognan appellation boasts imposing architecture and exceptional terroirs. Renowned for its wines of rare finesse, Château Pape Clément invites wine lovers to explore its cellars steeped in history and taste its prestigious vintages.  

We were lucky enough to taste the 2016 and 2020 white and 2016, 2018 and 2019 red cuvées. These Bordeaux wines capture the essence of this legendary estate.

What our U'wine-Makers think

• Château Pape Clément Blanc 2016 : aromas of ripe peach and fresh grapefruit with hints of cedar and toast. Medium-bodied, with a very long finish. 
• Château Pape Clément Blanc 2020 : bright nose with scents of orchard fruit, orange and lime. Fresh and mineral on the palate. 
• Château Pape Clément 2016 : brilliant colour, expressive nose with scents of black fruit and liquorice. Fine tannins on the palate.  
• Château Pape Clément 2018 : an elegant wine with notes of black fruit and light oak. A fresh, fruity finish.  
• Château Pape Clément 2019 : full-bodied and deep, this is a fleshy wine with notes of cherry, blackcurrant and liquorice. Rather long finish.

Château Fieuzal: under Stephen Carrier's spell  

To round off this December day, we were invited to Château Fieuzal, where Stephen Carrier opened the doors of his château to us. A true treasure of the appellation, this estate captivates with its timeless charm and expressive wines, including Château de Fieuzal 2019 and L'Abeille de Fieuzal Blanc 2018.

What our U'wine-Makers think 

• Château de Fieuzal 2019 : black fruit on the nose, smoky notes, well-balanced and generous on the palate, good finish.
• L'Abeille de Fieuzal 2018 : notes of red fruit and spices on the nose. Bright red colour. Round and expressive.

A sparkling end   

This final estate tour of the year ended with a cocktail reception at Appartement U'Wine, featuring a themed tasting of wines from around the world.  

The sparkling bubbles of Champagne Labruyère, the depth of Bodegas Aalto Ribera del Duero 2019, the subtlety of The Hilt Santa Rita Hills Estate 2018 and the complexity of Barolo Ettore Germano Serralunga d’Alba 2015 all enhanced our guests' palates.

The magic of this day lies in the passion of the winegrowers, the richness of the terroirs and the conviviality shared between wine lovers. Pessac-Léognan revealed its secrets in an authentic way, leaving an imprint on our taste buds and our memories. We look forward to seeing you soon!