Les Sources de Caudalie is a 5-star hotel-spa nestling in the vineyards of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, a Graves Grand Cru Classé. Alice and Jérôme Tourbier have designed a complex in total harmony with the surrounding environment, combining lifestyle, nature and culture.
Between vineyards and forests
Château Smith Haut Lafitte dates back to the 14th century. This 87-hectare estate on a hillock (Lafitte- in old French) is home to an exceptional vineyard, with vines that draw their resources from a depth of more than six metres. And trades with passion and tradition: coopers who make the oak barrels, blacksmiths to shoe and care for the draught horses that work the vines. The result is remarkable Bordeaux wines, well-crafted, balanced and full of nuance. Florence and Daniel Cathiard, owners of the Château, have dotted their vineyard with monumental sculptures over the years.
Luxury hotel and great cuisine
In the heart of the Graves vineyards, in Martillac in the Bordeaux region, the hotel Les Sources de Caudalie offers 49 rooms and 7 suites divided into 6 houses: Le Comptoir des Indes, La maison du Lièvre, le Village des Pêcheurs, l'Ile aux oiseaux. Everything here is reminiscent of Aquitaine, its ocean and its basin, its terroirs and its countries, its architecture and its trades.
My favourite: the 'Le Vent du Large' suite, nestled in La Grange au Bateau.
Bird Island
The most legendary of the Signature Suites, L'île aux oiseaux is reminiscent of the huts "tchanquées" of the Bay of Arcachon. A 50 m² cocoon with a terrace on stilts. After Maison Martin Margiela, Maxime Simoëns and Delphine Manivet, it was the turn of Rabih Kayrouz to dress Cinderella, the iconic Suite, simple and luminous, all in white except for the large wooden wardrobe and the chairs by the Danish designer. Hans Wegner (1914-2007). The room was designed as a "great sculpture" explains the Lebanese couturier. He has decorated it with objects found in Beirut. Lina Audi, designer of Liwan, renowned for its original selections, has also installed tinned copper mushroom tables.
La Table du Lavoir
A good place to stop off after a walk through the vineyards to sample some "bistro" cuisine. The framework was built from wood salvaged from Lafitte-Rothschild's cellars, and the menus are presented on old beating racks.
For an aperitif, the "French Paradox", a club bar with leather armchairs and an intimate atmosphere, is the ideal place to sample old Armagnacs, cognacs or whiskies. The cellar houses 16,000 bottles.
A vinotherapy spa
The spa has several treatment rooms, a hammam, a swimming pool with jacuzzi and relaxation rooms. Like the rest of the hotel, it is built mainly from natural materials. Note the striking contrast between the rustic materials (old beams, old tiles, stone) and the chic, luxurious atmosphere of this place.
Alice Tourbier has succeeded in building bridges between the vineyard, the Grand Vigne restaurant and the spa, which uses Caudalie products, the organic skincare brand founded by her sister Mathilde Thomas. The benefits? Spring water rich in minerals and trace elements, drawn from a depth of 540 metres, combined with polyphenols, a well-known anti-ageing agent contained in grapes.
The "Grand'Vigne" restaurant, 2 Michelin stars
A refined setting for discovering the cuisine of chef Nicolas Masse, a cuisine inspired by the terroir. The menu has 7 stages: 3 starters, 1 fish, 1 meat, 2 desserts and it's not gargantuan.
A tartlet topped with slices of smoked eel will whet your appetite. Followed by a bite of foie gras with grapes marinated in Pineau des Charentes. Then a 2nd tartlet with a mushroom cream.
The Saint Pierre, cooked in a seaweed butter, is accompanied by a white wine emulsion with small wild leeks from the vines. Served with a glass of Puligny-Montrachet, 2019. The desserts are the work of pastry chef Anthony Chenoz.
Chemin de Smith Haut Lafitte
33650 Martillac
www.sources-caudalie.com
PRACTICE
Invigorating getaway" offer "3 nights
(Full board at La Table du Lavoir, one lunch at the 2-star La Grand?Vigne restaurant, sports activities, red vine and grape marc baths, Merlot body wrap, grape peel oil treatments, facials, scrubs, etc.). From 3 220 € (for 2 people).
Buco Chic Escape" offer - 2 nights
(half a day of treatments at the Spa by Caudalie including a 15-minute bath or body wrap, a 20-minute hot oil massage and a 50-minute facial treatment, 1 lunch at La Grand?Vigne - restaurant 2 *, 1 meal at La Table du Lavoir. From 1,930 € (for 2 people).
https://sources-caudalie.com/offres-speciales/
"Château Smith Haut Lafitte", Graves Grand Cru Classé, Pessac Léognan
Chemin de Smith Haut Lafitte
33650 BORDEAUX-MARTILLAC
http://www.smith-haut-lafitte.com/
"Caudalie", Cosmetic products, Spa Vinothérapie® (Vinotherapy® Spa)
http://www.caudalie.com/
Text : Michèle Lasseur
Opening photo : Michèle Lasseur
