Bordeaux

The wine of Château Petrus is utterly distinctive and has very little in common with those of the surrounding properties. It has a near- chewy, unctuous quality of richness and power, and an exceptional depth of colour, with wonderful definition of flavour and bouquet.

Pontet-Canet has always been a legendary Médoc. It is deep ruby-red, crimson, and sometimes almost black colour and has a characteristic bouquet of black fruit (especially blackcurrant), liquorice, and prune as well as fig, cedar, and sometimes cocoa overtones. Pontet-Canet combines power and elegance, as well as concentration and fullness on the palate. Rather sinewy in style, Pontet-Canet is clearly a classical wine with a tannic structure that provides excellent ageing potential. The chateau team is conscious of the fact that they are following in the footsteps of more than three centuries of tradition, with each period contributing its technical innovations in the interest of quality and in order faithfully to reflect the terroir.

Chateau Lynch-Bages is in the Pauillac appellation and is one of the best known Médoc estates. The estate was founded when Thomas Lynch, an Irishman, inherited it in 1749. This was passed through the family until 1824, when a Swiss wine merchant, Sébastien Jurine bought it. For over a hundred years the estate was owned by the Jurine's and then the Cayrou family. In 1938 Jean-Charles Cazes bought it and it has remained in the family ever since, now being run by his grandson Jean-Michel Cazes. Chateau Lynch Bages has Fifth Growth status and the vineyards cover 90 hectares, overlooking the Gironde estuary.

Chateau Montrose is a Second Growth winery in the Saint-Estèphe appellation. Life as a vineyard only began at Montrose in the 19th Century when in 1815 Etienne Thèodore Dumoulin built a vineyard. By 1820 he had expanded it and also built a small chateau. Dumoulin continued to expand it up until his death in 1861, when it covered 50 hectares. Soon after the estate was sold to the Dolfus family, who invested a great deal of time and money into the state before it changed hands to the Hostein family and then the Charmolüe’s at the end of the 19th Century. Under the latter, the estate survived vineyard disease, economic depression and war and was subsequently revived with a round of renovations.

Calon-Ségur was once part of the great Ségur estate, although this was in the 18th Century when Calon had already been in existence for at least five hundred years. The Chateau Calon-Ségur bottle has a trademark heart on it, due to a previous owner, Marquis de Segur's statement, "my heart belongs to Calon". Following Marquis' death, Calon-Ségur was sold into the Demoulin family who then discarded it to the Lestapis family who managed to achieve a very respectable Third Growth in the 1855 Classification. For the last hundred years the estate has been owned by the Gasqueton family, who have revitalised Calon-Ségur, and the current owner Madame Capbern-Gasqueton has set about running the vineyard with gusto, hitting form with recent vintages.

Chateau Léoville-Poyferré is a Second Growth winery, which is located in the Saint Julien appellation. The estate used to belong to a much larger estate named Léoville; however this was split up during the French Revolution. From this Chateau Léoville-Las Cases and Chateau Léoville-Barton were formed and in 1840 the former was split up again, a portion of which became Chateau Léoville-Poyferré. The Cuvelier family have owned and run the estate since 1921; however the quality had lagged behind the other Léoville estates until the 1970's. Then Didier Cuvelier took the reins, and under the guidance of Guru Michel Rolland since 1995, he has turned the winery around.

Chateau Malescot St Exupéry is a Third Growth winery, which is situated in the Margaux appellation. The origins of the Chateau lie in the 18th Century, when the owner at the time, Simon Malescot Esquire, built a Chartreuse-style mansion. In 1827 Count Jean-Baptiste Saint-Exupéry bought the estate and added his name to it. In the second half of the 19th Century the Fourcade and Boissac families built an impressive Chateau and cellars to match the impressive wine. The end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th Century marked difficult times from Malescot as it suffered from phylloxera and mildew as well as world wars. However, three successive generations of the Zuger family have helped to restore the estate to its previous greatness from 1955.

Chateau Mouton-Rothschild is located in the village of Pauillac in the Médoc 50 km north-west of Bordeaux. Its red wine also named Chateau Mouton-Rothschild is regarded as one of the worlds greatest clarets. Chateau Mouton-Rothschild was first acquired by the Rothschild family in 1853 when it was bought by Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild who gave it its name. However the first family member who really took any significant interest in the estate was Baron Philippe who from the age of 20 in 1922 set out to make Mouton-Rothschild wine the best. In 1924 he introduced revolutionary new measures such as 'entire chateau bottling' and in 1926 built a magnificent 100 metre barrel hall.

Chateau Lagrange lies in the heart of the Saint-Julien appellation and is a classified Third Growth winery. The origins of the estate date back to the Middle Ages, as it was then known as the Noble House of Lagrange Monteil. During the 18th and 19th Centuries, the estate was growing at a rate of knots, producing 300 tons of wine in 1842 and was awarded the Third Growth in 1855. After these highs, in the early 20th Century Chateau Lagrange slumped into a long period of mediocrity due to crop failures producing poor quality wine.

Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a second Growth in the Pauillac appellation. The estate, which is commonly referred to as just Chateau Pichon-Lalande, used to be a part of the larger Pichon estate, owned by Pierre de Rauzan. The larger Pichon estate gained its name when Pierre's daughter Thérèse married Jacques de Pichon Longueville in the 17th Century. Pichon-Lalande was later separated from Pichon Baron in 1850 due to inheritance, with the name Lalande being gained again through another marriage.

In terms of variety at the vineyard, around two thirds of the red vines are the Cabernet Sauvignon variety, bringing tannic structure and power, a particularly popular choice in Saint Julien. The remaining Merlot variety is rounder, and thus more receptive to maturity and bringing mellowness to the blending. A hugely impressive team including estate manager are behind the harvesting and vinification processes who all work with such precision as to preserve the terroir's most intense expression.

Classified a second growth in 1855, Chateau Doisy-Daëne has belonged to the Dubourdieu family since 1924 and three generations have poured their passion and endeavour into it. Georges purchased the property and saw a succession of legendary vintages grow its reputation up to 1945. Doisy-Daëne was modernised and expanded under the guidance of Pierre, who consistently created great wines for over fifty years. The vintage of 2000 saw the beginning of a new era led by Denis, a consultant oenologist and professor at Bordeaux’s faculty of Oenology

The Chateau Griviere is a family owned domain located in the northern part of the Medoc near the town of Blaignan, just above St Estephe. The current owner has made huge investments since buying this estate from the Rothschild family (on the Lafite side) in 1990. Unusually for MÈdoc, the Merlot grape dominates with 55% of the blend and the 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc give silky texture to the wine.

The extensive, 70-hectare vineyard of this 4eme cru classe estate spreads over five villages of the Margaux appellation. In June 1999, it was bought by the Balland group, and it has seen great benefits thanks to the hard work of the new owners ever since.

Chateau Clerc Milon's name is partly taken from the town Milon and partly from a former owner in the 19th Century, Jean-Baptiste Clark. The Chateau was first acquired by the family when her father, Baron Phillipe bought the rather run down estate in 1970 and is now owned by Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and her children.

Chateau de Fargues is an enormous 170-hectare estate, but vines are only to be found planted on the magnificent clay-gravel rise close to the ancient chateau - a mere 15 hectares. Chateau de Fargues has been owned by the Lur Saluces family for over five centuries- long enough for them to have turned the making of great botrytis wine into a fine art.

Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion's vineyard straddles the communes of Talence and Pessac, and is located only a few miles southwest of Bordeaux's city centre. Belonging to the Pessac-Léognan appellation, the property is situated just opposite that of Chateau Haut-Brion and shares the same gravelly, elevated terrain ideal for cultivating vines.

This 15-hectare property is planted on clay, limestone and gravel soils with 55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Sauvignon ripens very well on this particular site assisting the complexity, elegance and great structure of the wine.

Bought in the 1920s, and situated on some of the best soils of Pomerol, this has been the jewel in the Rolland family crown since 1978. Nestled between the vineyards of Gazin, L`Evangile, and Cheval-Blanc, the seven hectares of Le Bon Pasteur lie on the border of St. Emilion, in the north-east of the appellation. Its old vines consist of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, and yields are intentionally low to ensure an emphasis of quality over quantity.

The 40 year old vines are on a slope with a southerly aspect, looking down on the river Isle - a tributary of the Dordogne - and the town of Libourne. The wine, a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon is aged for 12 - 15 months in 60% new French oak barrels, and is a serious and complex wine. Open, rich and opulent, it has very ripe, concentrated black fruit and coffee on the palate and fine tanins on the long, silky finish.

Situated on the border between Saint-Emilion and Pomerol the property is 3.5 hectares of clay and gravel in the area known as Corbin and originally bought by Michel Rolland's grandparents in the 1920s. A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, it is bursting with plummy fruit wrapped up in ripe, rounded tannins and low acidity. Clean ruby red in colour, it appears very restrained on the nose initially with dark berry fruits supported by a little tar and spice. A wine of great charm and finesse which should grace only the best tables.

Chateau Bertineau Saint Vincent is a wine with the true character of the Lalande de Pomerol appellation, which comes from a good terroir. Aged in one-year old barrels, the younger brother of the Pomerol, this is a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, is pure, floral, generous and full-bodied. Blackcurrant and blackberry fruit flavours lead to a long smooth finish with hints of oak spice and chocolate. The wines tend to show at their best with at least 5 years of bottle age.

Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou has been owned by five families, including the Bergeron family, the Ducru's, the Johnston's, the Desbarat's and finally the Borie family who run it today. Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou takes its name from the large beautiful stones that can be found on the estate.

Vinegrowers since 1610 in St Emilion, the Meslin family invests all its skills in the expression of this beautiful terroir. A Grand Cru Classé of Saint Emilion, the 70-acre vineyards of Chateau Laroze lie right at the foothill of the medieval village of St Emilion.

Chateau Grand Bert, owned by the Lavigne-Poitevin family for six generations with Sophie and Laurent being current custodians, is situated south of the village of St Sulpice de Faleyrens.

The history of Domain de Chevalier can be traced back as far as 1763, when it was marked on a map drawn by the engineer Pierre de Belleyme. Situated in Léoville, the estate has been managed by Olivier Bernard since 1983, whose quest for balance and perfection continues to push the its stellar standards ever higher.

Another string in the mighty Michel Rolland bow, the grapes in this unique little vineyard of 1ha are the fruit of traditional white Bordeaux grape varieties planted in 1992 on a beautiful terroir in the commune of Lussac which only produced red wines in the Lussac-Saint Emilion appellation.

You will often find Julien Bonneau from this family run estate at our tastings, keen to show of these delicious soft and fruity wines. Bordering the Gironde Estuary on its right bank, the 58-hectare vineyard is planted with 36 hectares of red grapes and 22 hectares of white grapes.

Chateau Giscours is a classified Third Growth and is located in the commune of Labarde in the Margaux appellation of Bordeaux . Winemaking at the estate goes back to the 16th Century, when it belonged to the Saint-Simon family, although during the French Revolution it was confiscated and later bought by American owners in 1793.

Grapes are thought to have been first grown on the property of Chateau Haut Brion in Roman times; although the earliest documentation indicating wine was being grown there is in 1423. The estate of Chateau Haut Brion dates back to 1525 and the construction of the Chateau began in 1549.

Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron is a Second Growth winery in the Pauillac appellation. Chateau Pichon-Baron, as it is commonly known, used to belong to a larger estate that also included Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, which was owned by Pierre de Rauzan. The estate was separated from its brother estate in 1850. The current owner is the French group AXA (insurance company), who have owned it since 1987. The owner of Chateau Lynch-Bages, Jean-Michel Cazes oversaw the winemaking until Christian Seely took over the reins of general manager in 2000.

The estate of Grand Puy's name was changed in the mid-19th century through marriage to a certain Francois Lacoste. The estate however steadily declined after being sold on from 1932 and did not look like recovering, reaching a low point of 25 hectares in the 1960's. Nonetheless the estate survived following the sale to the Borie family of Ducru-Beaucaillou in 1978.

Chateau Margaux is a First Growth winery, which is located in the Margaux commune, on the left bank of the Garonne estuary. In the 12th Century, the estate was known as "La Mothe de Margaux" and a fortified castle lay on the small rise of land. In the 16th Century, wine growing took on particular importance under Pierre de Lestonnac.

Chateau Langoa-Barton is a Third Growth Bordeaux winery in the Saint-Julien appellation. It was purchased by Irishman Hugh Barton in 1821 the family have managed to preserve their inheritance for almost 2 centuries as the current owner is Anthony Barton, who took over in 1983. It lies on the bank of the Gironde River and the estate's vineyard covers 20 hectares.

Dating back to the early 17th century, this Chateau is classified only as a Cru Bourgeois. Despite this, it consistently produces wines that match or even overshadow those produced by many of its supposedly more prestigious neighbours.

The first traces of wine production at Chateau Cantemerle were found in 1354, as the Lord of Cantemerle paid off his debts with a casket of clairet. During the Middle Ages and up until the sixteenth century, the Médoc was more devoted to cereal-growing than to wine production. The estate moved from the de la Roque family into the Villeneuve's hands and later the Durfort's. In 1892 the estate moved into the Dubos family, whose descendents managed it all the way up until 1981, initially producing good quality wines, however these declined in later years, mainly due to less than adequate investment.

Chateau Le Pey, owned by the Compagnet family, has built their reputation over the last 4 decades on the sheer quality of their wines, as well as the great value for money they provide. They own two estates in the Médoc separated only by a road but with very different soils types and wine styles.

Olivier Compagnet, winemaker of Chateau Le Pey, and his brother-in-law Pascal Coyault own this tiny 4.5-hectare de St Clair, Médoc property. Olivier brings his expertise to maximise the potential of his vineyards.

Chateau Clinet is located in the Pomerol appellation around 40 kilometres from Bordeaux and its terroir lies on the Gunz gravel terraces, that are renowned for producing the best merlot in the world.

Chateau Kirwan is a Third Growth winery in the Margaux appellation that is located in the Cantenac commune. The estate gained its current name in the 18th Century when the daughter of the owner married an Irishman Mark Kirwan, who was later guillotined in 1792. Schröder and Schÿler have owned Kirwan, including the beautiful 18th century Chateau, since 1925.

Chateau La Tour Blanche is located at the heart of the Sauternes appellation in the Bommes commune, in the Graves region. The Chateau of this First Growth winery was constructed in the 18th Century. At the beginning of the 20th Century the estate truly took on its original form. The former owner Daniel Iffla who was nicknamed ‘Osiris’ left the property to the French State under the condition that they would create a Wine School there. Thus in 1911 the La Tour Blanche School of Viticulture and Oenology was commissioned and still teaches budding professionals and runs the estate today.

Chateau Léoville-Las-Cases was classified as Second Growth in 1855 and is located in the Saint-Julien appellation. The estate used to belong to a considerably larger estate, however at various points in its history. segments of land were carved off.

For many years now, Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste has defied its relatively meagre classification as a 5ème Cru Classé to consistently outperform its peers and indeed many of its supposed it superiors. This estate sits a few kilometres to the west of the town of Pauillac, and is owned and run by François-Xavier Borie.

Chauvenet Chopin owned by the Duffau family have been in the area since 18th. Situated in Génissac, just over the river from Saint-Emilion, the vineyard is on clay-chalk soil and planted predominantly with Merlot. The wine exihibits lovely texture and is well-balanced with impressive length.

The quality of Château Lafite Rothschild needs no introduction. As early as 1815, Abraham Lawton had already designated it as leader: “I ranked it as being the most elegant and delicate, with the finest body of the three (leading wines)” he qualified in 1855. As to Château Lafite's attributes found in all vintages, it was an enlightened amateur that summed it up best by saying “...whatever the case, all the Château Lafite wines have an almond and violet aroma!”

The history of Langoa and Léoville Barton is the story of a family who have managed to preserve their inheritance for more than 2 centuries. From one generation to another the wines produced have maintained the quality of their classification, offering wines at the very top of their appellation.

Chateau Gruaud-Larose is classified as a Second Growth and is located in the Saint-Julien appellation of the Bordeaux region. The origins of the estate go back to 1725, when it was owned by a knight, Joseph Stanislas Gruaud. When the property was passed on to Sébastian de La Rose, he renamed it Gruaud-La Rose or Gruaud-Larose. The property remained intact despite control being split among various descendents until it was divided into two in 1867. Fortunately, the two were reunited by the Cordier family in 1935. From 1983, several different owners controlled the estate until the current owner the Taillan Group under Jacques Merlaut bought it in 1997.

Chateau Haut-Brion was laid out in 1533 by Jean de Pontac, which makes it the oldest wine estate in Bordeaux. The vineyard is located in the commune of Pessac, just a few miles southwest of Bordeaux’s city centre. It belongs to the Pessac-Léognan appellation, to the north of the Graves wine-growing region.

The vineyards of Haut-Batailley are stretched out to the east of the main road that runs southwest out of Pauillac, actually facing the vineyards of Batailley itself. Also included are those around Chateau Couronne, a little chateau which François Borie acquired in 1932.

Chateau Latour is a First Growth winery that is located in the Pauillac commune in the Médoc region. The name comes from the fortress tower that used to stand there. Although that tower was destroyed by the French Army, a new circular one was built using the original edifice. Its origins date back to at least the 14th century, although the vineyards were not properly established until the 17th century. The estate was once under English ownership, those owners being the Pearson Group, owners of the Financial Times, and Harvey's of Bristol. Latour was bought by François Pinault in 1993, a French billionaire, who later owned Yves St. Laurent, Gucci and Christie's Auction House. Pinault has delegated the day to day running of the estate to President Frédéric Engerer, under whom a recent investment project has undisputedly seen Latour reach the pinnacle of Bordeaux wine. Chateau Latour has a vineyard which extends for 78 hectares, including a special 47 hectare section named l'Enclos, which is exclusively for the "Grand Vin". The vines are made up of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 2% of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

Chateau Pavie is a Bordeaux winery located in the Saint Emilion appellation. The ancient Pavie vineyard dates back to at least the 4th Century AD however winemaking only properly started to progress in the 19th Century. The estate used to contain several different holdings until in 1885 Ferdinand Bouffard bought one and expanded it to make a single 50 hectare block of vineyards, which he named "Pavie". After the First World War, Bouffard sold the estate to Albert Porte, who later sold it in 1943 to the Valette family. They oversaw great improvements in the quality of the wine and following Gerard Perse's ownership from 1998, Michel Rolland has been hired as a consultant, and with new equipment and techniques Chateau Pavie wine has become much more concentrated and as a result internationally renowned. The vineyards currently number just under 37 hectares and consist of 60% Merlot grapes, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Chateau Lafon-Rochet is a Fourth Growth Bordeaux winery in the Saint-Estèphe appellation. The Chateau has been owned by the Tesseron family since the 1959, who have a successful background in the cognac trade. They completely replanted the neglected vineyard as well as expanding it and rebuilt the Chateau in the 'chartreuse' style, which is the first Médoc chateau to be rebuilt in the 20th century. Now Albert and Michel Tesseron run the estate, as they try to continue to embbody the generations of tradition that are behind this excellent wine. The 41 hectare vineyards are planted on soils with a clay-gravel composition and are made up of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. Lafon-Rochet used to have a reputation of producing excessively tough and tannic wines, however with the increased use of Merlot in recent years the blend has been softened.

Chateau Monbousquet is located in the Saint Emilion appellation, in the Saint-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens commune. Monbousquet has its origins in the 16th Century, although winemaking began there in the 19th Century under Comte de Vassal-Montviel, who increased the estate to 40 hectares and planted vines on a large scale. Although some renovations and restorations were made by the Querre family after 1945 when the estate was in huge disrepair, the real upturn came in 1993. Parisian supermarket tycoon Gérard Perse bought Monbousquet and subsequently implemented a series of changes. He hired Michel Rolland as a consultant, restricted the yields and renovated the facilities to put Monbousquet's wines well and truly on the map as they are now amongst the finest in the Saint-Emilion appellation. The vineyard covers 32 hectares, of which the grapes are 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate also produces a white wine, Chateau Monbousquet Bordeaux Blanc and it dedicates 1 hectare of 55% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Sauvignon gris, 5% Muscadelle and 5% Sémillon grapes. An average of 450 cases of the white wine is produced each year compared to 8,300 cases of the 'Grand Vin' Monbousquet.

A grand cru is a matter of origin in time as in space. The Château Palmer style is embedded in history and dedicated to the expression of its terroir. It is a style beyond fashion and trends. To experience its timelessness, there is no better way than to taste it – repeatedly!

In 1997, Comtesse de Lalande of Château Pichon Longueville acquired Château Bernadotte, which borders the Pauillac appellation to the west, close to a number of classified growths. The vineyard today is spread over 35 hectares grouped together around the Château. The soils in the main are gravelly/sandy and naturally well drained with an important degree of clay in depth, permitting resistance to draught and moderate water stress during the maturation period of the grapes.

Records of the Branaire Ducru etate go back to the 17th century and the chateau was classified a fourth growth in 1855. Already back in 1680 when Jean-Baptiste Braneyre acquired the estate, he understood how exceptional this wonderful terroir was, made up mainly of stones, called “graves” in the Medoc, and located so near the wide Gironde estuary. These soils are unique in their mineral quality.

Mme Castaing, the first owner, inherited some of the best plots of land on the crest of Grand Poujeaux. Unfortunately it was too late for the classification of 1855, but in 1932 a new classification brought her wine up to the grade of Grand Cru Exceptionnel with only five other Chateaux.

When the Chateau came on the market in 1982, the great names of the Medoc region fought to buy it. The owners of Chasse-Spleen were to become the proud owners. Their first vintage was a success, in no way hindered by the fact that 1982 was an exceptional year for Medoc wines. Since then, the quality of the work carried out by the wining team has not slackened and the wine they produce is becoming more and more popular with journalists and professionals of the wine world.

Chateau Haut Marbuzet is one of those special places where they consistently defy a relatively meagre classification to produce truly outstanding wines. Though ranked only as Cru Bourgeois, this is an outlandish, voluptuous wine which many of the neighbouring Grand-Crus would be more than proud of.

Château Larrivet Haut-Brion’s long history has been extensively documented. Known by several names over the years, the château has had many owners, all of whom were great Bordeaux wine connoisseurs. There were, however, some ups and downs, but a new team of enthusiastic professionals has done a wonderful job of giving Château Larrivet Haut-Brion back its superb reputation, and the estate is once again universally recognised as one of the finest wines in the Pessac-Léognan appellation.

Château Moulin Saint Georges covers 7 hectares (17 acres) and is located opposite Château Ausone, with which it shares its owner. The soils are clay-limestone, and the grape varieties are Merlot at 80 % and Cabernet Franc at 20%.

Born in 1762 during the reign of Louis XV and died in1853 under Napoleon III, at the remarkable age of 91, Louis Gaspard d'Estournel had one sole passion: Cos. Having inherited a few vines near the village of Cos, he recognized, in 1811, the quality of their wine and decided to vinify them separately. Château Cos d’Estournel has belonged to Michel Reybier since 2000. Mr Reybier’s objective has been to uphold the château’s high standards and constant quest for excellence while at the same time continuing the avant-garde style initiated by Louis Gaspard d’Estournel.

Named for its most famous owner, this estate lies in Pessac, stretching out over a wide plateau, which boasts three types of soil. The taste is meaty, generous, satiny tannins and noble new oak. The red grape vines are 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. The Cabernet Sauvignon is mainly planted in the gravelly-sandy areas. It gives the blend the tannic structure that guarantees it will age well in the bottle. Better adapted to more clayish soils, Merlot produces wines that are full, rich and velvety, in which ripe fruit dominates. It should be noted that over 60% of the vines are over 25 years old, and the presence of these old vines lends additional delicacy and elegance.

Since 1985, when the vineyard was purchased from the Delon family, Xavier Gardinier has been happily running Phelan Ségur, aided by his three sons. Enormous restoration work has been carried out to return the property to its former glory, including custom wine-making equipment created to enable the terroir to express itself in all its complexity.

One of the leading Cru Bourgeois estates, Château Potensac is situated between the villages of Ordonnac and Blaignan in the north of Médoc. Potensac is an expansive property with 50 hectares under vine. The vineyards are composed of the classic varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and the terroir is the gravel-clay soil that is so typical of the area. The average age of the vines is around 35 years.

This Cotes de Bourg estate ranks among the very finest of its appellation. Roc de Cambes was bought over in 1988 by the owner of St. Emilion’s Chateau Le Tetre-Rotebouef, Francois Mitjaville. It boasts a superb location close to the Gironde, where the south-facing slopes of a natural amphitheatre nurture 10 hectares under vine.

Dating back to the 12th Century, the estate of La Tour Carnet is without doubt one of the oldest chateaux in the Medoc region. Set in the heart of the Haut-Medoc, Chateau La Tour Carnet has an exceptional, unique terroir.

This château entered the modern age with the Valette family. In 1980 Alexandre’s great grand daughter, Christine, took over the estate and was joined, 10 years later, by her husband, Xavier Pariente. Together they continued to improve and embellish the vineyard, cellar and chateau. This hard work and their efforts proved worthwhile when in 2006 Troplong Mondot was awarded 1er Grand Cru Classé status.

The early origins of Chateau Doisy-Védrines are not well documented although it is known that the three Doisy vineyards of Barsac; DaÎne, Védrines and Dubroca, all stem from one single estate. From the beginning of the 19th Century, the three Doisy vineyards had begun to be recognised as one of the top vineyards in Barsac and after the split Doisy Védrines was classified as a Second Growth in 1855. The Védrines family who had owned the estate for many years eventually sold it to the Boireau family in 1851, and their descendents are still running Doisy Védrines today. The 30 hectare vineyard means that Chateau Doisy Védrines is the largest of the three Doisy estates. The vineyard has a real mixture of soils including limestone, clay and sand over limestone bedrock, while the grapes are 85% Semillon and 15% Sauvignon Blanc that altogether create truly vibrant white wines.

Chateau Climens is truly incomparable. Somewhat ironically, ‘Climens’ means ‘unfertile or poor land’ in Celtic. Fortunately for those with the right savoir-faire, the prodigious vine is capable of transforming apparently undesirable soils into the most outstanding wine terroirs. Situated on the highest point of the Barsac appellation, the vines stretch over 30 hectares around the chateau, in one continuous vineyard.

In 1787, former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, then ambassador to France, celebrated Château Coutet as the best Sauternes from Barsac. In 1855, the estate was classified as a First Growth and recognized for its continued excellence. Today, as the oldest and largest Barsac estate, Château Coutet stays true to its tradition of distinction and quality.

During the Middle Ages, this great estate actually belonged to the King of England – these days, it is run by Pierre Lurton, the man behind legendary Chateau Cheval Blanc. At Yquem, a unique set of climatic and geological conditions combine to form a rare equilibrium, which epitomises all that is best about the singular winegrowing environment in Sauternes.

Château Beychevelle, A prestigious Cru Classé whose character has been forged by three centuries of history…Nowhere does the word Château in its noblest sense ring as true as it does at Beychevelle.

Two grand old estates have dominated the Margaux appellation throughout the centuries: Mothe-Margaux and Mothe-Cantenac, known today as Chateau Margaux and Chateau D’Issan. The first documented reference to Chateau d’Issan dates back to the 12th century, and its heritage and renown is such that its motto is Regum Mensis Aris Que Deorum – For The Tables of Kings And The Abode Of The Gods.

The prestigious history of Brane-Cantenac is not linked to a personality or a family but to the estate’s incomparable soil, which has been carefully studied over the years by the top specialists. Recognised throughout the estate’s history as one of the finest in the Médoc, Brane’s terroir long gave the estate its unofficial ranking as ‘first of the seconds’. The heart of the estate is an unbroken block of 45 hectares, which has remained unchanged for three centuries.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the esteemed animal painter of Scottish descent, John Lewis Brown, bought this vineyard. Designed by Brown in a traditional Tudor style, the château was host to the grand parties the owner was renowned for, highlighting his love of good wines. Sold in 1843 to a banker (Gromard), the owner in 1855, when the estate was granted a Grand Cru classification.

Chateau Charmail is located in the heart of the Medoc, 2km from Saint-Estephe and about 60 km north of Brodeaux. The Chateau has the rare privilege of overlooking the church tower in the village and the Gironde estuary, and the grand vin has been described by Robert Parker as "a wine that borders on perfection."

Legend has it that the knights and ‘Frères Hospitaliers’ of Saint John of Jerusalem were the first to cultivate the vine in Pomerol. Viticulture was developed here from the 19th Century onwards and above all during the 20th Century. The vineyard of Petit-Village is situated at the highest level of the gravel plateau which constitutes the heart of Pomerol, as you leave the village of Catusseau.

An exceptional location for high quality wines, located in the heart of the right bank, along the plateau of Pomerol and St. Emilion.