CWM Ranking: First Class 85 % Merlot, 15 % Cabernet Franc. Only a road divides this property from St Émilion. Under the same ownership as Ch. Faugeres and Ch. Peby Faugeres. This is a starting point for the more complex Faugeres wines. The vineyards are surrounded by hillsides, perfect for water draining and sun exposure. South facing with limestone and clay subsoil. No barriques were used at all this vintage; 80% Stainless steel, 20% oak vats. Deep ruby, concentrated. Inviting nose with raspberry, blueberry. Expressive palate, lots of flavour. Fresh, spicy, red plum, red cherry, touch herbaceous. Ripe and generous, medium+ body, well balanced and long. Powdery tannins, peppery finish. Chewy. Drink now - 5years. 14.5% ABV, pH = 3.6, 4.8g/l TA.

CWM Ranking: High 2:1 Deep concentrated ruby colour. Toasty oak, grilled meat, pencil shaving, kirsch, blackcurrant, currants. Surprising, bright, juicy palate. Creamy secondary characteristics. Robust forward fruit, victoria plum, dark cherry, currants. Well held with ripe tannins. Balanced and enjoyable. Fruit falls away towards the end but reasonable length.

CWM Ranking: High 2:1 Dark ruby, limpid. Simple ripe red fruits on the nose. Quite pure; a touch leafy, herbal. Juicy bouncy palate with lots of raspberry, kirsch, vanilla. Moderately good fruit intensity, precise, polished, refined. Fresh acidity, soft tannins. Will come round quite early, but could also 10+ years. All well integrated and delicious.

CWM Ranking: First Class 89% Sauvignon blanc, 11% Sémillon. Ripe, attractive stone fruit aromas at first. Subtle citrus additions. Concentrated palate. Textural, but not intrusive oak. Lovely length. Juicy finish. Slightly spicy, mineral. Almost Pouilly-Fumé like. Very good.

The 2014 Domaine de l'Eglise has a lifted bouquet with blackberry, raspberry coulis, mint and menthol aromas that are quite intense and seem to gain vigor with aeration. The palate is well balanced with smooth, velvety tannin. It demonstrated more complexity than its stablemate La Croix du Casse, with hints of truffle and dark chocolate lacing the finish. It might lack a little finesse, but this Pomerol is undeniably packed full of flavor.

Cassis, licorice, dark plum. Sumptuous ripe fruit on palate. Ruby, plums, liquorice and red fruit. Ripe full tannin. Integrated. Fresh acid. Warm heat from alcohol but enough acidity and elegance to be of interest.

CWM Ranking: Starred First 47 % Merlot, 45 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 7 % Petit Verdot, 1 % Cabernet Franc. Blackcurrant yoghurt aromas. Some hints of potpourri. 25ha planted at 10,000 vines per ha (max. for appellation), 37 plots, certified HVE. Gentle and precise extraction. Juicy, quaffable, very approachable. Cocoa dusted tannins. Juicy, not chewy fruit. Still freshness. Alcohol well held. Subtle spiciness. Touch of kirsch. Creamy cassis and easy tannin at the finish. Delicate and dusty. 55hl/ha. Never more the 1/3 new oak. 14.1% ABV.

"A pure, focused red with blackberries and blackcurrants. Very floral, too. Medium-to full-bodied, tight and fine-tannined. Pretty clarity and balance to this. Less muscular than the 2018, but very attractive all the same." 94-96 points, James Suckling

"67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc. Barrel sample. Attractive nose of dark fruit with a savoury edge. Palate joyous and juicy with plenty of lift, the tannins ripe and smooth. Clean, long and harmonious. Everything in its place. Drink 2026-2038." 17/20 , James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson.com, June 2020 "Very finely textured with pure blue fruit and lavender and violet undertones. It’s full-bodied with pure, focused fruit. Extremely long and refined. Clearly better than the 2018." 95-96 points, James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, June 2020 "Silky blackberry and bilberry fruits, this is a brilliant Langoa, with concentration and lift that pull you both forwards and upwards through the palate. For me this is more successful than the 2018 because it delivers an absolute punch of fruits but gently so, with elegance and control that is very St Julien. Grilled cedar finish, great stuff. Drinking Window 2027 - 2042. 94 points, Jane Anson, Decanter.com, June 2020

90-93 from Bob Parker "Attractive, subtle smoky notes blend beautifully with the broad, honeyed character of this complex white Bordeaux. Aromas of beer nuts, tropical fruit and caramelized grapefruit emerge from this impressive, medium to full-bodied wine."

Mid ruby, ripe, creamy red fruit nose, juicy and appealing palate. Black fruits, fine tannin, med+ length, fresh acid and balance.

95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. Deep ruby black, plums, cocoa, creamy oak. Medium bodied and delicate, precise quite cool and feathery tannins. Layered, supple, spicy, pleasing, restrained.

Old vines – 50+ years. Very dark crimson. Smells of little ripe wild berries. Hint of Cab Franc's more linear character even though it is only 5%. Good combo of dry minerality and sweet fruit.

70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc. Attractive, complex fruit nose. Black fruits and some toasty oak, cocoa. Ripe and juicy flashy, plump, well built but not OTT.

Big, rich and velvety like a decent Margaux should be with a modern glossy feel on the palate. Designed for earlier drinking as a second wine, with extended barrel ageing. Delicious fruit, ample weight and body, ripe tannins.

16.5 points CWM and Julia Harding jancisrobinson.com "Mid cherry red. Lovely cherry fragrance too. Cool and silky. Relatively lightweight but fine and gentle on the palate. Pretty and elegant. The producer was worried that this was a lighter-tasting sample than the rest and the second bottle was indeed firmer and richer. Bravo"

16.5 points CWM and Julia Harding jancisrobinson.com "Mid cherry red. Lovely cherry fragrance too. Cool and silky. Relatively lightweight but fine and gentle on the palate. Pretty and elegant. The producer was worried that this was a lighter-tasting sample than the rest and the second bottle was indeed firmer and richer. Bravo"

16.5 points CWM and Julia Harding jancisrobinson.com "Mid cherry red. Lovely cherry fragrance too. Cool and silky. Relatively lightweight but fine and gentle on the palate. Pretty and elegant. The producer was worried that this was a lighter-tasting sample than the rest and the second bottle was indeed firmer and richer. Bravo"

2nd Wine of Ch Laroque, Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé. Made of 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc from vines more than 50 years old, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Les Tours de Laroque opens with pretty raspberry coulis, black cherries and warm plums scents with underlying fungi, black loam and cracked pepper hints plus a touch of beef drippings. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and fresh, with a firm line of grainy tannins, it delivers a graceful, earthy finish.

Deep garnet in the glass. Earthy, some spice on the nose. Black berry and dark berry upfront on the palate. Balanced with oak, freshly cut wood. Fresh tobacco leaves. Sticky tannins. Full bodied, medium high acidity. Medium length finish

A wine made from a single walled vineyard within the 2nd growth Ch Leoville Las Cases, adjacent to Ch Latour. The It has a very intense bouquet, the more fruit-driven of all the Saint Julien 2012s with layers of black cherries and cranberry fruit, an undercurrent of autumn leaves and cigar box. The palate is medium-bodied with fine definition: smooth and very harmonious,

A rich effort from this well-known property in St Christoly. Lovely rich mouthfeel, ripe and tannic with a luscious long finish. Low acidity suggests drinking this wine young, say 2018-2023.

Mid ruby, oak, black fruit, cream, and cassis liqueur on the nose. Fresh and ripe fruit flavours, med+ acid, ripe tannins, well balanced alcohol. Well managed

Perfumed nose. Cream, cassis, blueberry cheesecake - really inviting, if primary and oak derived. Juicy, plenty of tannin but fun blueberry fruit. Well structured. Fruit remains though. As does acidity. Totally charming.

It shows a lovely pale yellow colour with greenish tinges. Fresh and expressive on the nose, with superb notes of pink grapefruit, mango and some slightly toasted hints. Its fine balance on the palate is remarkable, with a lot of roundness and body, as well as pure, elegant freshness. The flavours of Sauvignon are delicate and persistent, giving this wine length and vibrancy.

A rich effort from this well-known property in St Christoly. Lovely rich mouthfeel, ripe and tannic with a luscious long finish. Low acidity suggests drinking this wine young, say 2018-2023.

Founded in 1870 and owned by the Meffre family since 1961 Chateau du Glana remains one of the very few Saint Julien properties outside the 1855 Grand Cru Classification. As such it offers great value as everything is carried out to the same standard as a Grand Cru; the vineyards are next to 3rd Growth Ch Lagrange, 40% new oak is used and the grapes are extremely well tended. The 2014 vintage is a lovely wine, now ready to drink and very moreish. Big blackcurrant flavours, good ripesness of fruit and tannin, long and velvety. Lovely

Firm juicy red and black plums. Sweet spice. Fine grained tannin. Fresh, and youthful. A High 2.1 Rating by our buying team. Well rated by Jane Anson and Jancis Robinson, which is always enough for me to take the wine seriously.

92-93 CWM rating. Extracted cherry fruit, very ripe aromas and flavours, good length, low acid but some subtlety. Very appealing. Persistent. Sylviane Garcin-Cathiard owns properties in Pomerol, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru and Pessac-Léognan, and we love them all for their exuberant pleasure-giving wines. In Pessac she operates Château Haut-Bergey, around 40 ha acquired in 1991, Her son Paul is now in charge.

70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc. Deep and chocolatey with sophistication and smoothness. Juicy but savoury on the palate. Doesn’t quite deliver all the promise of the nose, but is enjoyable while it lasts.

2nd Wine of the very grand Ch Laroque, Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé. Made of 93% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines more than 50 years old. This was the first vintge under the control of winemaker David Suire who worked previously at neighbours Pavie-Macquin and Larcis-Ducasse. The medium to deep garnet-purple coloured 2015 Les Tours de Laroque opens with pretty raspberry coulis, black cherries and warm plums scents with underlying fungi, black loam and cracked pepper hints plus a touch of beef drippings. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and fresh, with a firm line of grainy tannins, it delivers a graceful, earthy finish.

2nd Wine of the excellent Ch Peyrabon this is a Cabernet Sauvignon dominated claret from vineyards near Pauillac from the great 2010 vintage. Drinking beautifully, with ripe blackcurrant fruit and smooth tannins.

Ruby with hints of purple, not showing real signs of ageing. Elegant blackcurrant and plum on the nose, followed by some pepperiness and spice, ultimately autumn leaves. On the palate tannins softened by oak dominate. Quite high acidity, A serious Bordeaux wine, begs for a rib of beef or leg of lamb. This wine is perfectly ready to drink. Cocoa, tobacco, leather, liquorice, violet, plum and most of all blackberry. Full, with a long dark fruit finish. Great value cru bourgeois

"The 2019 d'Arsac has a very Margaux-like bouquet with crushed violet and potpourri bursting from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with very lithe tannins, well judged acidity, tobacco and minty notes infusing the black fruit towards the finish. Probably early drinking but nicely made." 90-92 points, Neal Martin

A marvellous wine from the great team at Dourthe, who own Ch Belgrave and other up and coming properties in Bordeaux. Voluptuous, decadent and hugely drinkable.Jancis Robinson likes it too "Rather luscious and sweet – even chocolatey...overall a lot of pleasure in the short term. Does persist quite impressively!

Owned by the Gerardin family since the beginning of the 20th Century this dessert wine comes from the Monbazillac region of South West France. Similar grapes varieties and conditions to Sauternes are experienced in Monbazillac, with the development of noble rot in late autumn. Old vines of 50+ years are used to make this golden aromatic dessert wine which shows botrytis aromas of smoke, marmalade, honey. A good but not very high level of residual sugar and bright acidity make for a delicious and easy to drink wine to match with fruit desserts, pastries and blue cheeses.

This Claret is fresh and balanced. The blend is Merlot-based and the wine is aged in French oak barrels for 12 months, giving a nice aroma of spice and wood smoke. The palate is fleshy with a hint of plum, the tannins fine and firm, leading to a generous finish. Drink now to 2029