Bordeaux & Beyond French Mixed Selection

Embark on a journey through the iconic vineyards of France with the Bordeaux & Beyond French Mixed Selection. This curated collection showcases the finest red and white wines from Bordeaux and other renowned French regions, each offering a unique expression of terroir and tradition. From the rich, velvety reds of Bordeaux to the crisp, aromatic whites of Burgundy and beyond, every bottle reflects the artistry of French winemaking. Perfect for dinners, gifting, or indulging in a taste of France, this selection is a celebration of elegance and heritage.

1 x Château d'Estoublon Rouge (Organic) 2018 - Les Baux-de-Provence, France

New launch! Owned by former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and his Supermodel & singer-songwriter wife, Carla Bruni, and Jean-Guillaume Prats of Château Lafite fame.

16.5/20 Vinum Wine Magazine (2016 vintage)

Silver - International Wine Challenge
Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards (2016 vintage)

Vinum Wine Magazine "Wild berries and herbs on the nose; straightforward beginning, slender structure, well-structured, good density and length, excellently crafted." (2016 vintage)

Decanter World Wine Awards "Beautifully perfumed with hints of cinnamon, poached damson and redcurrant, while the palate is textured with dried fruit and well judged oak." (2016 vintage)

Sommelier's advice "A dark ruby color, with garnet red hues. The nose has hints of ripe red fruit - lightly jamy. Spicy notes with a certain predominance of vanilla and leather. The palate is soft and fruity with ripe and soft tannins with good structure. Long final. A concentrated and elegant wine to serve to various game dishes or veal with chanterelles."

Winemaker "Wine with a garnet ruby ​​color. The nose is powerful with notes of plum and crushed blackberries highlighted by notes of chocolate, roasted cocoa, sweet spices and cedar. On the palate, it is powerful and concentrated reflecting the characteristics of this hot and dry vintage, all supported by tannins of character."

30% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Cabernet-Sauvignon
Alcohol: 13.5%

Decanter "Château d’Estoublon has a long winemaking history, and is today owned by some of France’s big names, including Jean-Guillaume Prats of Château Lafite fame, and former President and First Lady Nicolas Sarkozy and CarlAn 18th-century estate, Château d'Estoublon is located in the middle of the Vallée des Baux de Provence, on the southern slopes of the Alpilles mountains.In the heart of the AOP Baux-de-Provence, nestled on the southern slopes of the Alpilles, the Château d'Estoublon vineyard extends over 17 hectares managed in organic farming. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Marsanne and Roussanne, the great Provencal grape varieties are kings, and reveal the essence of this unique terroir between complexity and freshness. Under the technical direction oa Bruni.

Château d'Estoublon is a prestigious winery owned by former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, his wife, model-turned First lady, Carla Bruni, and Jean-

Nestled in the heart of Provence, France, Château d'Estoublon was established in 1489 and embodies the best of French elegance, a legacy of wine-making excellence, and the essence of Provence's terroir and heritage.

Château d'Estoublon wines benefit from the region's unique microclimate and limestone-rich soils, imparting wines with unparalleled depth and complexity. From the sun-kissed slopes to the cool, mistral-kissed valleys, each parcel of land contributes to the harmonious symphony of flavors found in every bottle.

Château d'Estoublon combines traditional winemaking and contemporary techniques, to create wines of exceptional quality and character. From hand-harvesting the estate grapes, to its comittment to sustainability, and organic agriculture, the estate is currently converting to biodynamics.

Provence is a wine region in the far southeastern corner of France best known for the quality of its rosé wines and for its warm, mild climate. The vineyards of Provence cover an area of France's south-eastern coastline that measures roughly 200 kilometres from east to west. In this definitively Mediterranean climate – no Provencal vineyard is more than 55km (25 miles) from the Mediterranean – the vines enjoy around 3000 sunshine hours per year.

1 x Chateau Marjosse Pierre Lurton Cuvee Truffiers'Rouge 2018 - Bordeaux, France

93/100 Decanter 
91/100 James Suckling
91/100 Jean Marc-Quarin
17/20 Jancis Robinson
15.5/20 La Revue de Vin de France

Owned by one of the world's most famous winemakers, Pierre Lurton - president of two of Bordeaux's best-known chateaux, the Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) owned Château Cheval Blanc and Château d’Yquem.

100% Merlot..15% new oak

Decanter "Excellent concentration and fruit definition, one to look out for....from the limestone-dominant plateau of Margaux. A clear floral edge on the initial aromatics, leading to redcurrant and tomato leaf, crunchy red cherry and raspberry fruit, deepening in texture as it opens."

James Suckling,''Blackberry, blueberry, wood and mushroom on the nose. Medium-to full-bodied with chewy tannins. Juicy and fruity at first, with freshness and crisp acidity. Flavorful finish. Drink now.''

Château Marjosse is owned by French 'wine royalty', Pierre Lurton - president of two of Bordeaux’s best-known châteaux; the Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) owned, Château Cheval Blanc and Château d’Yquem, Château Marjosse. Pierre Lurton comes from two of the great Bordeaux families. His father Dominique was the youngest son of the paterfamilias François Lurton; his uncle André Lurton who founded the eponymous wine company; his many cousins run châteaux from Pauillac to Pomerol. His mother is from the famous Lafite family.

The influential Club Enologique asserts that Pierre is the most accomplished wine personality of his famous family. Trained as a doctor but swapping his studies for wine making after four years. At 23 he took over Clos Fourtet in St Emilion, one of the fine Lurton properties, and in 1991 he was appointed head of Château Cheval Blanc (it was bought by Bernard Arnault of LVMH in 1998); in 1999 he took on Château d’Yquem, which had just been added to the Arnault portfolio.

Club Enologique describes Pierre Lurton as having the world’s most corporate wine job. "However he divides his time between two of the world’s most exalted wine properties, but comes down to earth in Entre-deux-Mers, the leafy, unpretentious appellation to the east of Bordeaux at Château Marjoss."

The Château Marjoss estate is located in Entre-deux-Mers, on the right bank of Bordeaux. Initially owned by the wine merchant Bernard Chénier, Château Marjosse was acquired by the Deleuze family, who, in 1990, gave some plots to Pierre Lurton to rent. In 1992, Pierre Lurton, who grew up in Château Reynier, neighbour to this magnificent Chartreuse, moved to a second home in Château Marjosse and, over successive years became the owner of the entire vineyard, as well as the Chartreuse in 2013.

Decanter "Since Lurton bought Château Marjosse in 1994, the estate has improved beyond recognition. Pierre's father, Dominique Lurton, also made over a further 30ha so that, under the Château Marjosse label, Lurton now exploits 42ha of vineyard, six hectares of white and 36ha of Bordeaux red – a total of 300,000 bottles a year. Pierre insists his wine is Bordeaux and not Bordeaux Supérieur because ‘my wine is only supérieur in the bottle’. His objectives are ambitious. As the quality of the terroir with clay-limestone soil is similar to some of the better areas in Saint-Emilion, he hopes to prove that wines from this area can rival those from more prestigious regions."

Sommeliers International "At Château Marjosse the land possesses yet another specific feature, known locally as “la Boulbène”, a silty-clayey texture that has developed on ancient alluvions. The fertility of these soils no longer needs to be proved, because, by chance, they are also found in Saint-Emilion, a terroir that is extremely familiar to the man who manages “Cheval Blanc” …. Pierre Lurton. Assisted in this transformation by Consultant-Oenologist Pascal Poussevin, whose recommendations range from vine growing to wine-making, Pierre Lurton’s estate has now reached its cruising speed … Beyond the fabulous adventures he experiences in his role as manager of Châteaux d’Yquem, Cheval Blanc, as well as estates in South Africa, Latin America and in Australia … it is undoubtedly with “the salt of this land here in the Entre-deux-Mers” that his years of quest for perfection will be revealed. It is clear that this region needs winegrowers of such calibre, those who possess a sixth sense and, using techniques that almost resemble intentional alchemy, transform the grapes they touch into wines that exude the unique character of a specific area."

The Entre-deux-Mers region, nicknamed by wine experts as “Little Tuscany”, is unique and jealously protected by its inhabitants. "There are fifteen appellations that constitute the Entre-deux-Mers. The most well-known of them all, reputed for its dry, lively white wines, is certainly the one which bears the name of this region! The Entre-deux-Mers cultivates a certain speciality in producing white wines, due to its basic geological assets, possessing gravelly-limestone soils, upon which Sémillon, Sauvignon, Muscadelle and even Ugni Blanc grape varieties are planted. But the variety of soils and sub-soils associated with such a complex landscape provides a diversity of terroirs … These are favourable for producing red wines, that are regrettably not sufficiently well-known, but highly prized for the complexity of their aromas, their deep, vivid colour, as well as the concentration and elegance of their tannins." Sommeliers International.

Bordeaux, in the southwest of France, needs little introduction as one of the world's most famous, prestigious and prolific wine regions. Its three trump cards are diversity, quality and quantity. The majority of Bordeaux wines (nearly 90 percent of production volume) are the dry, medium- and full-bodied red Bordeaux Blends that established its reputation. The finest (and most expensive) of these come from the great châteaux of the Haut-Médoc and the Right Bank appellations Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. The legendary reds are complemented by high-quality white wines, both dry styles (particularly from Pessac-Léognan) and the sweet, botrytized nectars of Sauternes.

Merlot is a red wine grape variety with strong historic ties to Bordeaux and the southwest of France. It is the second most-planted red wine grape variety in the world, after Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot is extremely popular in northern Italy, the United States. Chile has built its reputation mainly on its Merlot-based cuvées. Merlot's flavour profile includes plum and black cherry. Often described as producing smooth, rounded and "easy drinking" wines. Merlot is often used to great effect in blends, and is known in his capacity to make some of the most famous wines in the world.

1 x Lacroix Martillac Blanc 2015 ~ Bordeaux, France

Second label of the famous Grand Cru Château Latour-Martillac

The winemaker "A wine with very nice length and great finesse. A bright gold colour, with lively and explosive notes of fresh citrus and exotic fruits on the nose. On the palate, the richness of the white grapes and the acid tension supply a superb sophistication. Pure and authentic mineral notes." (translated from French)

Vinous "Bordeaux enjoyed its strongest vintage in a number of years in 2015. The warm, dry summer yielded opulent wines built on intense fruit and voluptuous textures. At their best, the 2015s are spectacularly rich, racy wines loaded with personality."

This wine comes from the vineyards of the well-known Grand Cru Bordeaux property of Château Latour-Martillac, owned by the Kressman family. The wines of Château Latour-Martillac gained widespread attention in 1934, when the red vintage was selected by the Wine and Spirit Benevolent Society of London for the celebration of the coronation of His Majesty King George the VI, King of England in December 1936.

The 6 children of the original owner, Jean Kressmann own the domain and continue with the family tradition of wine-making, assisted by the leading wine consultants in Bordeaux. In the 1980’s, they increased the area planted in Sauvignon Blanc to compliment the Semillon, the historical grape variety of the property.

Pessac-Leognan is a prestigious appellation for wines produced in a particular area of the Bordeaux region of south-western France. A relatively new appellation, it was carved out of the Graves sub-region in 1987 – recognized in its own right on the merits of its high-quality red and white wines. This was a significant change, as many of the chateaux in what is now Pessac-Leognan were the best performers in the Graves Classification of 1959.

Pessac-Leognan’s white wines are made predominantly from Sauvignon Blanc (a required minimum of 25%) and Semillon grapes, and are often matured in oak for greater complexity. These white varieties thrive on the sandier soils of the appellation and produce more age-worthy wines than any other part of the world.

Elsewhere, blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are best consumed within two years of harvest; in contrast, the best white wines of Pessac-Leognan can develop in bottle for well over a decade.

1 x Clos des Centenaries Grenache Vielles Vignes (Old Vines) Red 2020 - Southern Rhône, France

15.5/20 La Revue de Vin de France (2019 vintage)
14.5/20 Bettane et Desseauve (2014 vintage)

Organic

The Winemaker "Notes of raspberry, sweet spices and dry flowers. The palate is round and soft with a full bodied and smooth finish."

100% Grenache

Clos des Centenaires was founded Luc Baudet of Chateau Mas-Neuf fame, and Californian wine industry veteran, Jack Edwards who both share a passion for artisan wines and the terroir of France’s Southern Rhone.

Clos des Centenaires is a historic vineyard situated in Costieres de Nimes, close to the Mediterranean Sea. The vineyard boasts 70-year-old Grenache vines which are deeply rooted in the pebble stones overlooking the picturesque lakes of Petite Camargue. The vineyard also features Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot, and Cinsault, and is known for producing unique, high-end, elegant wines of excellent value.

The vineyard soils are cultivated amongst natural grassland using shallow tillage methods and special attention is paid to the revitalization of vines (using annually prepared biodynamic compost). Inputs are limited to organically approved natural products.

Costieres de Nimes is the most southerly appellation of the Rhone wine region in southeastern France. The wines of the area are reputed to have been consumed by the Ancient Greeks and thus figure among the oldest known wines in the world. The Costieres de Nimes AOC covers an area between the towns of Nimes and Arles.

The Rhone Valley is one of France's key wine regions, and is divided neatly by a gap of about 25 miles (40km). Wines from the northern part of the valley tend to be Syrah-dominant (Hermitage and Cote Rotie being the most notable examples), while wines from the southern Rhone are more commonly blends, with Grenache playing a more dominant role. Chateauneuf-du-Pape is the most famous example of a southern Rhone blend, but similar blends are found in wines from Gigondas, Vacqueyras and the regional Cotes du Rhone title.

Grenache is a red-wine grape grown extensively in France, Spain, Australia and the United States and is one of the most widely distributed grapes in the world. Grenache is the French name for the grape, but it has a number of synonyms. In Spain, where it is one of the country's flagship varieties, it is known as Garnacha, and on the island of Sardinia it has been known for centuries as Cannonau. In France, Grenache is most widely planted in the southern Rhone Valley and throughout both Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon. It is most commonly found alongside Syrah and Mourvedre in the classic Southern Rhone Blend (notably in Cotes du Rhone wines), and is the main grape variety in Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

1 x Chateau Malescot 'La Dame de Malescot' 2018 ~ Margaux, Bordeaux, France

93/100 James Suckling
92/100 Falstaff
93/100 Falstaff (2017 vintage)
90/100 Falstaff (2016 vintage)
92/100 James Suckling (2015 vinatge)
92/100 Falstaff (2014 vintage)
90/100 Decanter (2012 vintage)

James Suckling "This is so drinkable and pretty with fine tannins, as well as currant, spice, cedar and light chocolate aromas and flavors. It’s medium-bodied and very fine-tannined with a long and persistent finish. Second wine of Malescot."

Falstaff "Strong ruby garnet, delicate ocher reflections, broader edge brightening. Nuances of pickled cherries, fine forest berry confit, floral touch, very delicate wood spice. Medium complexity, heart cherries, pleasant sweetness, round tannins, freshly structured, mineral and persistent, a versatile food accompaniment."

Falstaff "Deep dark ruby, purple reflexes, faint brightening on the rim. Delicate dried fruit on the nose with a hint of fig, dark berry fruit, fine herbal savouriness and candied orange zest. Juicy and elegant with pleasant substance, integrated, supporting tannins and good length with a mineral finish. " (2017 vintage)

Peter, Moser, Falstaff "Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, subtle lightening of the edges. Red berry confit underlaid with delicate herbs and spices, fine tobacco nuances. Medium body, also red berries on the palate, delicate tannins, salty and mineral notes, lemony finish, uncomplicated food accompaniment." (2016 vintage)

James Suckling "Ripe blackberry and dark plums with a wealth of violets and raspberries. This has a very plush palate with slick, smooth and ripe tannins that carry raspberry and red-plum flavors. Quite approachable." (2015 vintage)

Falstaff "Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, subtle lightening of the edges, attractive dark berry fruit, delicate notes of cassis and liquorice, black cherries, tobacco nuances. Full-bodied, fine blackberry confit, fruity sweetness, well-integrated tannins, sticks, a pleasant, silky food wine with aging potential." (2014 vintage)

Decanter "A great second wine for drinking now, this has lashings of damson fruit to back up the acidity. The tannins are not as intense as they would be in a great vintage but it's good quality, with polish and real appeal. (2012 vintage)

Made by one of France's 'Top 10' winemakers, famous for his 1855 classified "Grand Cru" Bordeaux. This wine is that wine's sought after brother!

Winemaker, Jean-Luc Zuger has been praised by wine media as "miraculous".

Winestyle "...elegant, full-bodied, harmonious, with hints of ripe cherry, black currant and blackberry, spicy notes, pleasant acidity, soft woody nuances and dry long finish"

Le Point magazine "Candied cherry, beautiful expressive nose, soft palate, velvety tannins, fresh, good finesse, a finish that will give you a surprise, superb fruit … all the power of a Cabernet." (French translation)

The Wine Cellar Insider "Winemaker, Jean-Luc Zuger is on fire at Chateau Malescot St. Exupery. The wines being made at the property today are stunning!"

Chateau Malescot St. Exupery has a long history in the Bordeaux wine region and is a Grand Cru Classé Chateau in the original Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. Malescot St. Exupery can be traced all the way back to 1616 when the Margaux estate was owned by the Escousses family. The Escousses were best known as notaries for the King.

Near the close of the century, in 1697 the Bordeaux wine estate was sold to Simon Malescot. Once Simon became the current owner, he followed the tradition of the time and changed the name of the estate to Malescot. Like the previous owner, Malescot also had a connection to royalty. He was the attorney-general to Louis XIV. Malescot remained with the Malescot family until the French revolution. At that point in time, the large estate was divided between three family members.

Over the next several years, the formerly robust Bordeaux wine estate of Malescot was split and split again. In 1813, Francois Benoit Dunogues purchased the chateau, reselling it in 1825 to Louis Pierlot. After Pierlot’s demise, his heirs had no interested in the wine business. They quickly resold the property to Comte Saint-Exupery.

In the tradition of Bordeaux chateau in the Medoc , following the lead of Malescot, he also added his name to the estate. The property was now known as Chateau Malescot Saint-Exupery.

The Zuger family bought it in 1955. At the time of the sale to the Zuger family Malescot St. Exupery was in such poor shape, only 7 hectares of vines were planted. Extensive replanting of vineyards took place and within a decade, 80% of the vineyard was planted. The Zuger family, headed by Jean Luc Zuger, who took over in 1994, continue to own and manage Chateau Malescot St. Exupery today. Michel Rolland is the consultant.

The vineyards of Chateau Malescot St. Exupery are situated on a terroir of gravel, chalk and clay soils with iron deposits. The vines are planted to 50% Cabernet Sauvignon , 10% Cabernet Franc , 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot . On average, the vines are 35 years of age. The vineyards is planted to a vine density of 10,000 vines per hectare.

Bordeaux is one of the world's most prolific wine regions, it is also one of the the most famous and prestigious.

Bordeaux's climate is well moderated by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the presence of the various rivers (the Dordogne, the Garonne and the Gironde Estuary into which they flow). The region takes its name (which translates roughly as "next to the waters") from the port city of Bordeaux, which serves as its logistical and administrative center.

Eighty-nine per cent of wine produced in Bordeaux is red, and made by more than 8,500 producers (which are also known as châteaux).

1 x Chateau Larose-Trintaudon Cru Bourgeois Superieur 2018 - Bordeaux, France

92/100 Andreas Larsson
91/100 James Suckling
91/100 Wine Enthusiast
91/100 Falstaff
90/100 Decanter
90/100 VertdeVin
Bronze - Wine Spectator
Bronze - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

91/100 James Suckling (2017 vintage)
90/100 Wine Enthusiast (2017 vintage)
Bronze - VertdeVin (2017 vintage)
Bronze - CellarTracker (2017 vintage)
Bronze - Wine Spectator (2017 vintage)
Bronze - Andreas Larsson (2017 vintage)
Bronze - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (2017 vintage)
Commended - Jean- Marc Quarin (2017 vintage)

Grand Gold - Frankfurt International Trophy
Silver - Lyon International Wine Competition
Bronze - Concours General Agricole Paris
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards
Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards (2017 vintage)
Commeded - International Wine Challenge (2017 vintage)

Andreas Larsson "Bright dark purple colour. Fragrant dark fruit like cassis, plum, cherry, fine oak and mild spices. Ample palate with good proportions, ripe tannin, fresh acidity and digest dark fruit flavours, crushed berries, tobacco and mild oak notes followed by a long a finish."

James Suckling "A fine, linear red with currants, blackberries and some chocolate and hazelnuts. Medium to full body. Medium round tannins. Pretty finish."

Wine Enthusiast "From one of the largest estates in the Médoc, this wine is packed with black-currant fruits and elegant tannins. Initially it seems light, but a core of structure and classic poise between fruit and tannin make the wine a candidate for aging."

Falstaff "Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate bright rim. Fresh dark forest berry fruit, a hint of liquorice, delicate orange zest. Juicy, elegant and balanced, pleasant fruit expression, ripe plums, integrated tannins, juicy finish, good food wine, great price-performance ratio."

Decanter "The really impressive thing about this estate is that it manages to deliver consistent good quality over a sizeable production (up to 800,000 bottles). Located directly opposite Larose Perganson on complex gravel, sandy-gravel and clay-limestone soils, this gives you Médoc character with cassis and bilberry, and a eucalyptus wash through the finish. Plenty to enjoy and no need to wait too long to do so."

VertdeVin "The nose is fruity and offers a small concentration as well as a fine richness. It reveals notes of pulpy raspberry, crushed strawberry and small notes of crushed cassis associated with touches of violet, small fresh/pulpy red fruits as well as a hint of small blue fruits, liquorice, cardamom and a very discreet hint of vanilla. The palate is fresh, fruity and offers minerality, juiciness, gourmandize as well as a fine acidulous frame, a fine richness and sapidity. On the palate this wine expresses notes of bright cassis, pulpy/juicy cherry and small notes of crushed raspberry associated with touches of violet, lilac, vanilla as well as very discreet hints of liquorice and chocolate. Good length. Tannins are fine and precise."

Wine Spectator "Succulent cherry and black currant preserve flavors have good energy, picking up sweet tobacco, cedar and iron hints along the way."

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider "Medium-bodied, soft, forward, early drinking charmer with no hard edges, just plenty of ripe, sweet, red fruits from start to finish."

James Suckling "Aromas and flavors of blueberries, violets and lemon rind follow through to a medium body, firm tannins and a fruity and salty, medium finish. Well done for the vintage." (2017 vintage)

Wine Enthusiast "The massive 550-acre property is situated right next to Pauillac's vineyards. This wine's ripe texture and generous berry fruits are balanced by a fresh edge typical of the vintage. With a base of tannins, the wine will age well." (2017 vintage)

VertdeVin "The nose is aromatic and offers a small concentration and a fine freshness. It reveals notes of fleshy raspberry, vanilla and small notes of toasted almond associated with a touch of cherry as well as fine hints of blackberry and a very discreet hint of cardamom. The mouth is fruity and offers an acidulous frame, juiciness and a fine grain. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy/fresh raspberry, fleshy/fresh cherry as well as fine hints of racy minerality and a subtle hint of nutmeg. Good length." (2017 vintage)

Andreas Larsson "Rather dark colour with a purple hue. Youthful aromas of wood and new oak, fresh cassis and red berries with some dry spices and tobacco. Rather full palate, still in a youthful phase with pronounced tannin, but balanced in an age worthy classic style, generous fruit, balanced oak and rather good length." (2017 vintage)

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider "Fruity, forward and fresh, this medium-bodied, red pit fruit-filled wine is ready to go for near term, soft textured, easy-drinking pleasure." (2017 vintage)

45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot

Chateau Larose Trintaudon's vineyards were first planted in 1838. The beautiful chateau was built in 1870 by the owner at the time, Comte Ernest de Lahens. During the late 1800’s, the property was even larger than it is today as Ernest de Lahens was able to increase the size of their vineyards to 345 hectares of vines.

The Haut-Médoc is a sub-appellation within the larger Médoc appellation on the left bank of Bordeaux. Situated between the Gironde estuary that runs down to the city of Bordeaux and the Atlantic coast, this is the home of some of Bordeaux’s famous chateaux. The six famous communes of the Médoc are contained within its boundaries: Margaux, Moulis, Listrac, St Julien, Pauillac and St Estèphe. The vineyard land that lies outside of these communes is classified as the Haut-Médoc; the result being that you can often find well-known Cru Bourgeois chateaux alongside the Cru Classé chateaux in the same appellation.

A Bordeaux Blend is any combination of those grape varieties typically used to make the red wines of Bordeaux. Cabernet Sauvignon is widely accepted as a compulsory component of any Bordeaux Blend along with Merlot. In fact, the majority of Bordeaux Blend wines are often made exclusively from a blend of these two varieties. The remaining components are Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.