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Published: June 14, 2022, 2:04 a.m.

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After a recent trip to the M\\xe9doc (the left bank of Bordeaux), I came away with a whole new appreciation for the region. In this show, I share what I learned and my main takeaway is simple: when we are thinking about M\\xe9doc, never forget that there are real people behind the bottle you drink and they care what you think about the wine! It\'s a place of wonder, great modesty, kind people, and exceptional wine.\\xa0

Here is the list of SOME of the things I learned!\\xa0

1. Bordeaux is not \\u201cover\\u201d, \\u201cdone\\u201d, \\u201chopeless\\u201d or \\u201cdoomed\\u201d for wine and we need to stop talking about that possibility (me, included). Jean-Baptiste Cordonnier from Ch\\xe2teau Anthonic in Moulis, and his ideas around agroforestry is proof of that (the podcast with him is forthcoming). As wine lovers, we need to stop buying into the clickbait and know that the Bordeaux many of us know and love will remain. There are people addressing how to adjust to the environment.

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2. Real people live and work in the ch\\xe2teaux!

• For many of the smaller or medium chateaux, homes have been passed down over generations. Although these people have generational wealth, the chateau are their homes and they run the business from these houses.
• For Ch\\xe2teau owned by wealthy people or banks, the homes are more showpieces for the trade or public, but the people who head up the wineries are real people (and they are employees \\u2013 like working there is their job \\u2013 so they are regular, working people. Magali Guyon of Ch\\xe2teau La Cardonne and Anne Lanaour of Ch\\xe2teau Meyney \\u2013 are outstanding, fun and very normal people who I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with and could talk about kids, inflation, and culture with easily).

3. There are quite a few families that moved to Bordeaux after Algerian gained its independence from France. You can read more about that time here. The way they were treated when they came back was not great and some of their families had been in Algeria for more than 100 years, so they missed their homeland. That said, the success many had in Bordeaux was a result of hard work and determination that still shows. Ch\\xe2teau d\\u2019Arsac and Ch\\xe2teau Fonreaud/Lestage are both owned by people who came from French Algeria and both owners are highly engaged

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At Ch\\xe2teau d\'Arsac, Phillippe Raoux started over after being raised in Algeria

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4. There are abandoned Ch\\xe2teaux in the M\\xe9doc \\u2013 even in very nice places! People (generally from outside of France) either invested, thinking growing grapes was easy, or at one point had a family home but could no longer afford the upkeep so they have left the vineyards and the homes to nature.

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5. What is a technical director? The conductor of the Orchestra (or winery! A technical director is in charge of the vineyards and the cellar. They must know everything that is going on both worlds. There is a cellar master and a vineyard manager, but the technical director is in charge of final product, and must coordinate all parts of making the wine.

Magali Guyon, Technical Director at Ch\\xe2teau La Cardonne

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6. The Chateaux owners are frustrated by their image and they care what normal people think about their wines! They want us to connect with the wines and understand that there are people behind the wines. They are not always savvy with marketing, but they want you to feel welcome to come and visit! (it isn\\u2019t snooty, at least where I went but still make sure you wear nice clothes and make appointments ahead of time).

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7. Bordeaux is right near the BEACH! You could easily plan a trip to do wine and beach. Although no one ever discusses it, it\\u2019s something to think about. It\\u2019s worth visiting! There\\u2019s also a forest for hiking.

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8. The FOOD is amazing, especially the seafood. But the veggies are amazing too. Fresh foods, excellent preparation.

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9. Every appellation makes a fantastic wine that is unique. Terroir matters a lot and it varies greatly. There were 10 million year old fossils in the vineyard at Chateau st. Come in Saint-Est\\xe8phe, which used to be covered by the sea.

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10. Vintage variation is a real thing \\u2013 the place has weather and I saw some of it in action.

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Related podcasts:

Ep 354: A New Look At Bordeaux\'s M\\xe9doc -- with Ch\\xe2teau La Cardonne\'s Magali Guyon

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Ep 389: Chateau Doyac and the Diversity of Terroir in the Haut-Medoc of Bordeaux

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Ep 391: \\xc9douard Miailhe - Dynamic leader of the Margaux AOC & 5th Generation Owner of Ch\\xe2teau Siran

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Links:\\xa0

• Margaux visitor site
• Medoc visitor site

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My visits:

Cha\\u0302teau Anthonic, AOC Moulis en Me\\u0301doc
Jean-Baptiste Cordonnier

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Cha\\u0302teau Siran, AOC Margaux.
With Edouard Miailhe, owner

Podcast:

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Cha\\u0302teau d\\u2019Arsac, Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, Margaux,
Philippe Raoux, owner.

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Cha\\u0302teau Chasse Spleen, AOC Moulis en Me\\u0301doc.
Jean-Pierre Foubet and Ce\\u0301line Villars Foubet, owners.

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Cha\\u0302teau Fonre\\u0301aud, Cru Bourgeois Supe\\u0301rieur, Listrac-Me\\u0301doc.
Jean and Marie-He\\u0301le\\u0300ne Chanfreau \\xa0\\xa0

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Cha\\u0302teau Meyney, AOC Saint-Este\\u0300phe
With Anne le Naour, Director

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Cha\\u0302teau Livran, AOC Me\\u0301doc
Edwige and Olivier Michon, owners.

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Cha\\u0302teau La Cardonne, Cru Bourgeois Supe\\u0301rieur, AOC Me\\u0301doc.
With Magali Guyon, technical director

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Cha\\u0302teau Phe\\u0301lan Se\\u0301gur, AOC Saint-Este\\u0300phe
With Ve\\u0301ronique Dausse, director

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Cha\\u0302teau Mouton Rothschild, 1er Grand Cru Classe\\u0301 en 1855, Pauillac.

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Cha\\u0302teau Lagrange, 3rd Grand Cru Classe\\u0301 en 1855.

Cha\\u0302teau de Co\\u0302me, Cru Bourgeois Supe\\u0301rieur, AOC Saint-Este\\u0300phe
Guy Velge owner, Jose\\u0301 Bueno Director, and Maud Essertel commercial director.

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Cha\\u0302teau Doyac, Cru Bourgeois Supe\\u0301rieur Haut-Me\\u0301doc
Astrid and Max de Pourtale\\u0300s, owners and Cle\\u0301mence their daughter.

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Cha\\u0302teau Gadet Terrefort, Cru Artisan, AOC Me\\u0301doc
Anai\\u0308s Bernard, owner

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Thanks to Carole Vidal and Vins du M\\xe9doc\\xa0for sponsoring my trip and for putting up with me for 5 days!\\xa0

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