Last year after a few too many at Le Cafe Anglais I was asked by Damien Sartorius (son of Lilian Barton) to run the Medoc marathon with him representing Chateau Langoa-Barton.
Although I do play real tennis twice a week, enjoying both my food and wine I was slightly nervous about the task of running over 26 miles! Nonetheless the opportunity to do something like this does not come up very often.
The Barton's were terrific hosts. There was a team dinner the night before where we basically tried to eat as much pasta as we could. Monsieur Sartorius brought out some old vintages of Leoville and Langoa, it pained me to have to turn it down but I knew one drop and I would want more.
Much to my suprise I managed to make it around the course. The majority of people 'running' stopped at each Chateau to drink wine - you can imagine the amount of people stopping at Lafite! The hill up to Cos in the 30 degree heat will remain in my memory forever.
The finish was straight into a beer tent and live music in Pauillac (slightly different to the finish at the London marathon). Quick shower and change and it was party time in Pauillac.
The next day Monsieur Sartorius pulled out all the stops. We had endless amounts of perfectly cooked steak and he opened some 1988 Leoville which was drinking very well. He explained that it has taken quite a long time for the '88 to come around (much like the 2008s will). We then had Langoa 1999 which was very elegant and then some La Tour Blanche to wash it all down. We spent the rest of the afternoon passed out by the pool.
A trip that I won't ever forget...
Christopher
http://www.leoville-barton.com/
