{"id":536,"date":"2011-08-03T16:34:33","date_gmt":"2011-08-03T16:34:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.leaandsandeman.co.uk\/blog\/?p=536"},"modified":"2013-02-12T13:00:54","modified_gmt":"2013-02-12T13:00:54","slug":"an-escape-from-the-beach-to-st-estephe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leaandsandeman.co.uk\/blog\/2011\/08\/an-escape-from-the-beach-to-st-estephe\/","title":{"rendered":"An escape from the beach to St Est\u00e8phe"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a last minute panic to beat the hordes not to mention the school holiday prices \u2013 the Porter family made a hasty decision to escape the grey and have a week on a beach \u2013 but where to go? With two little people under three \u2013 anything too \u2018long haul\u2019 was off-limits \u2013 and the UK\u2019s summer so far meant we did not dare risk the all too hip \u2018staycation\u2019.<\/p>\n

After a momentary review of our options we plumped for an old favourite \u2013 the Atlantic coast of Bordeaux. The beaches here are astonishing. Miles and miles of fine golden sand \u2013 and unquestionably the best waves in Europe. For the more genteel swimmer or the toddling paddlers there are also the calmer waters of the enormous lakes that stretch for miles just inland from the coast or even the lagoon at Arcachon. So, as long as the sun shone this was going to be ideal.<\/p>\n

Thankfully it did \u2013 most of the time \u2013 and when it did not – what better \u2018grey day\u2019 distraction for any \u2018amateur du vin\u2019 than the sprawling vineyards of Bordeaux and in particular the Medoc.!?\"Regal<\/a><\/p>\n

Just twenty minutes heading west from our base in Hourtin sits the pretty village of St Est\u00e8phe. This is the most northerly of the four important communes in the Medoc \u2013 and the only one I had not been to before. On our last visit to Bordeaux it was just a step too far heading north up the ‘Route des Ch\u00e2teaux’, for the very patient Mrs Porter. After the umpteenth stop between Margaux, St Julien and finally Ch\u00e2teau Lafite in Pauillac she called it a day on my incessant diversions and diatribes about yet another unmissable chateau.<\/p>\n

In fact, St Est\u00e8phe starts right where Ch\u00e2teau Lafite, in the very north of Pauillac, finishes \u2013 separated by the smallest of streams. Geographically the soil starts the same as in Pauillac \u2013 with deep gravel beds \u2013 but as you go further into the area, clay begins to dominate and this is notable in the different style of wine made here. The ability of the clay to hold onto water means that often in the hot vintages, St Est\u00e8phe fairs better than the better drained soils further south \u2013 and the wines are certainly different and have their own distinct style. The best examples are classically powerful and intense \u2013 often tricky to taste when young \u2013 but with patience these can evolve into supremely elegant wines.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

With the exceptions of Ch\u00e2teau Cos d\u2019Estournel and Ch\u00e2teau Montrose \u2013 there are no really big name, blue chip estates here \u2013 but there are some excellent mid-range names such as the brilliant Lafon-Rochet, the stalwart Ch\u00e2teau Meyney and the serious wines from Calon-Segur as well as some super, value-offerings at Cru Bourgeois and even \u2018village\u2019 level. These include Lea and Sandeman favourites Capbern Gasqueton and Tronquoy Lalande<\/a> as well as our perennial best seller – Les Ormes de Pez.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

As we picnicked amongst the vines close to Ch\u00e2teau de Marbuzet we were struck by the beauty of the place. From our tartan square we could see the gleaming spires of seven beautiful castles with nothing but vines filling the gap in the landscape. The Medoc has a certain majesty \u2013 it is an other-worldly place to spend time – close to a theme park at times with pristine chateaux dotting the rolling, verdant landscape \u2013 prompting our toddler to innocently ask \u2013 \u2018where are all the princesses?’<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Any wine lover should visit this alluring\u00a0place \u2013 and St Est\u00e8phe is well worth the stretch to the top of the Medoc \u2013 a gentle introduction to the magic. It is calmer, more rustic and more real than Margaux, St Julien and Pauillac \u2013 but still deeply impressive \u2013 and on the whole this is true for the wines too \u2013 more down to earth, more amenably priced and yet distinctly Bordeaux.<\/p>\n

For more details on St Estephe I recommend this official website: https:\/\/www.vins-saint-estephe.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a last minute panic to beat the hordes not to mention the school holiday prices \u2013 the Porter family made a hasty decision to escape the grey and have a week on a beach \u2013 but where to go? With two little people under three \u2013 anything too \u2018long haul\u2019 was off-limits \u2013 and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,42,49],"tags":[60,61,56,64,55,58,63,59,57,62,797],"class_list":["post-536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bordeaux","category-france","category-saint-estephe","tag-chateau-calon-segur","tag-chateau-capbern-gasqueton","tag-chateau-cos-destournel","tag-chateau-de-marbuzet","tag-chateau-lafite","tag-chateau-lafon-rochet","tag-chateau-les-ormes-de-pez","tag-chateau-meyney","tag-chateau-montrose","tag-chateau-tronquoy-lalande","tag-saint-estephe"],"contentshake_article_id":"","yoast_head":"\nAn escape from the beach to St Est\u00e8phe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In a last minute panic to beat the hordes not to mention the school holiday 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