When I came over the high pass south into the Agly Valley in the 70s, I was captivated by the ancient vines on steep, terraced hills, topped by high, ruined castles. It was wild 'unknown' territory. That's where bestselling Cabalié, made by the legendary Hervé Sabardeil, is from. Hervé buys grapes for Cabalié from many vineyards, but the best grapes came from two vineyards of 100-year-old vines on schist/granite soils. They are two of France's oldest vineyards, lying on steep, terraced hillsides. When Hervé learned the farmer was retiring, he bought those two vineyards – and thus we have the 'Grand Cru' Origine … the purest essence of Cabalié … made solely from those two vineyards. It's a nearly all dark, spiced Carignan, with a few rows of silky Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, which add to the incredibly rich fruit and luscious texture.

Here, their clay and gravel vineyards are planted with the region’s classic grape varieties, which benefit from careful, environmentally friendly vineyard and vinification practices.

Château Sainte Marguerite 2009 showcases the greatness of the region’s top grapes, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Taste punnets of inky fruit (dark cherry, plum and blackcurrant), smoky spice notes, minerals and a touch of cigar-box. Decant for an hour and serve in large glasses to release all its aromas and flavours.

Save $1,260 when ordering 12 btl and we will also throw in a FREE Le Roi Bœuf 2019, worth $269!

Gold, Concours Mondial des Vins Féminalise, 2016

Le Roi Bœuf 2019 is a unqiue BIG red . Along with local star winemaker Lionel Osmin, our Bordeaux buyer Jean Marc has crafted, what he calls "the ultimate steak wine". One sip of its decadent, richly spiced black fruit flavours and you’ll agree. Order 6 or 12 bottles today, we will throw in a free bottle in your case, worth $269!

Take a minute to read online reviews for Cabalié. This one is typical: “When my time comes to shuffle off this mortal coil, this is the wine I want in that final glass. It is simply, utterly, indescribably fantastic.” Its secret? It’s crafted by the internationally acclaimed Hervé Sabardeil in the ancient vineyard region of Roussillon. Using largely Grenache, with additions of herb scented Syrah and fragrant Cinsault, Cabalié has impressive concentration. That’s due to the maturity of the vines, which include some of the oldest Grenache in France. The tiny berries they produce give Cabalié extraordinarily rich, ripe flavours. Boasting 12 medals in five vintages, this now legendary wine is in its element with a slow braised beef casserole.

Our Buyer for Bordeaux, Jean-Marc Sauboua, praises this wine as "Lovely mellow maturity to this well-aged Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, a sibling to Château Plaisance", their flagship Grand Cru.

The 65-year-old vines are planted on prized gravel and sandy soils in the southwest of Saint-Émilion, which means they are very well drained and the grapes at harvest time are exceptionally concentrated. The fruit is hand-picked and meticulously selected.

This opulent Gold-winning Grand Cru is a Merlot dominant blend (80%) with the balance made up of Cabernet Franc (10%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%). A careful hand in the vineyard and the cellar, along with 14+ months' ageing in new oak, ensure pretty fruit with enough power and structure to age. Indeed, it’s rare to obtain a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru with over 10 years’ age and at such a sensible price!

Enjoy aromas of mature red fruits, tobacco, earthy undergrowth, as well as tertiary elements of leather. Over 10 years cellaring has resulted in a silky palate of mellow red fruit, earthy tobacco and gentle spice oak notes. Stand the bottle upright a few hours, so that any sediment there is will drop to the bottom. Then carefully decant. Serve with simple dishes to show it at its best – roast duck or crisp pork belly works best.