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" Picture: Ch\u00E2teau Cordeillan-Bages, \u00A9 J\u00E9r\u00F4me Mondi\u00E8re/Lynch-Bages &amp;amp;amp; Cie An idyllic French wine-country retreat with a domaine at its heart, the Relais &amp;amp;amp; Ch\u00E2teaux-approved Cordeillan-Bages is a gourmet getaway for the most discerning of epicureans. The name might perplex: the \u2018Lynch\u2019 part comes from its Irish ancestry, but this is a very French property, with excellent Bordeaux wine, two-Michelin-star food and bicycle rides through vineyards that Francophile dreams are made of. \u00A0 \u00A0The lowdown At the edge of the village that owner Jean-Michel Cazes has gradually restored, Ch\u00E2teau Cordeillan-Bages is a honey-coloured hideaway in the Medoc, with a grand gravel drive, a pool amid the vines and huge beds to retreat to post-banquet. The village near Pauillac, once falling into disrepair, has been taken over by the Cazes family and now includes a deli with everything you could possibly want for a picnic \u2013 and your suitcase \u2013 a bike-hire shop and a clothes boutique. \u00A0Wow factor For a memorable gift that you can ship home and enjoy for years, pop into Viniv off the main village square and begin the process of making your own blend of Bordeaux. You\u2019ll meet with producers, visit vineyards, pick your grapes and design your label \u2013 then take a box-load home for your cellar. \u00A0Picture: the Comptoir d&amp;#039;Andr\u00E9a deli in Bages village, \u00A9 J\u00E9r\u00F4me Mondi\u00E8re/Lynch-Bages &amp;amp;amp; Cie Eating and drinking The hotel is home to the region\u2019s only two-star chef, Jean-Luc Rocha, and his restaurant has become a destination in itself. The estate\u2019s owner regularly invites artists to display their works around the hotel \u2013 and their art inspires Rocha, who deconstructs pieces and recreates them in edible form. It may not be stricly haute cuisine, but his version of Bordeaux\u2019s famous canel\u00E9 cakes are undisputed regional champions. Caf\u00E9 Lavinal is his bistro on the village square offering guests a more relaxed, but just as delicious, dining experience. \u00A0Culture Don\u2019t miss a tour of the winery for a look at how wine used to be made, with the ancient machines on show. Afterwards, a masterclass with resident oenophile Charles Thuillier will set you on your way to conquering that wine list in future. For some seaside charm, head to the coast for moules frites at one of the many shacks that line the shore in Soulac-sur-Mer \u2013 it\u2019s not glamorous, but it\u2019s an authentic French family experience. If it is glamour you\u2019re after, join the holidaying Parisians and take a day trip to the chic Cap Ferret for elegant restaurants and excellent surf. \u00A0Book itCh\u00E2teau Cordeillan-Bages, Route des Ch\u00E2teaux, Pauillac, France, from about \u00A3175 a room a night; half-board, from about \u00A3320 (+33 5 56 59 24 24). *** MORE TRAVELThe best hotel brunchesThe most spectacular resorts in the SeychellesMelia Sky, Barcelona \u00A0 \u00A0 \u00A0 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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