In May 2009, I organized a tour of the Right Bank for the visiting faculty and students of the Wine School of Philadelphia. The visit was an opportunity to tour and taste a couple of very special winemaker projects under the guidance of Philippe Baillarguet, winemaker of Chateau Ausone (click here to read about my transcendental encounter with this amazing wine) 

Philippe is vinifying two wines, one in Saint-Emilion close to Pavie hill, and the other in Pomerol on the plateau.  Our guide is Bruno Baillarguet, owner of Vignobles & Chateaux wine store and school, in the heart of Saint-Emilion.  You will see how easy it is to spend time with these two!

After visiting the vineyards in Saint-Emilion and Pomerol, Bruno led the group through a tasting of Clos Payrol, Pomerol, and Clos des Baies, Saint-Emilion, including barrel samples of the 2008 vintage (which is very good on the Right Bank, by the way!)

Our timing was fortuitous in another way -- a hailstorm hit Saint-Emilion that very morning!  You will learn and see the lasting devastation that hail causes when it hits at precisely the worst moment. 

My tasting notes of the Barrel Samples are found here.