Bordeaux
Bordeaux is home to some of the world's finest wines, and is known for classic reds (historically called claret), elegant whites and sublime sweet wines. The region is divided by the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, which meet to form the Gironde estuary. On the 'left bank', the Médoc has savoury, perfumed reds mainly from Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Across the river, the undulating countryside is home to Saint-Émilion and Pomerol.
The soil is a mixture of clay, gravel and sand, and the area typically has hotter summers than the Médoc, making it ideal for Merlot. These 'right-bank' wines tend to mature faster, and their soft texture is more approachable than the firmer, more structured left-bank reds.
The white wines can be sublime; weighty, yet with refreshing elegance. Zesty Sauvignon Blanc is often given weight by Sémillon. Dry whites have long been the region's best-kept secret, but with recent excellent vintages, it is now their time to shine.
CHATEAU LYNCH BAGES 2016
Deep garnet red in colour, Château Lynch-Bages 2016 has the characteristics of a remarkably mature vintage. The nose is very expressive with notes of dark fruit (blackcurrant, morello cherry, etc.) mixed with fresh touches of mint. The attack is sm
CHATEAU TALBOT 2015
A racy wine, with complex marks of Havana tobacco and licorice, classically delicious without ever the slightest hint of austerity.
CHATEAU LAFON ROCHET 2016
Tight and classic aromas with darker redberry fruit, heavy flower bed, dark stone, light stable, leather and wood. Pretty full-bodied wine that offers itself with more freshness that the aroma image should indicate. Powerful with great redberry frui
CHATEAU SMITH HAUT LAFITTE 2014
A big black-cherry and bitter-chocolate nose leads into a rich, concentrated palate, where the fruit easily holds sway over the powerful, dry tannins.
