Renowned French winemaker Gérard Bertrand makes his £40+ a bottle Corbières in craggy Boutenac. Just across a small country road is the village of Fabrezan and its equally amazing vineyards. It's where, in fact, Tony Laithwaite bought his first Corbières shipment back in 1971. Today young couple Amelie and Jean-Baptiste work tirelessly, in evenings and weekends (after their day jobs as consultant winemakers), tending their ancient vines and making their cru quality Corbières.
The vines were planted by J-B's great grandfather, a cellar built by his son, but more recently the grapes were all sold to the local coop. J-B and Amelie took over in 2007 and decided they could make something much better. This fabulous Grand Cru style is the result.
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Pauillac, in Bordeaux’s hallowed Médoc, is home to "the most concentrated area of fine red wine in Bordeaux” (Oz Clarke). Three out of the five First Growths can be found here (Lafite, Latour and Mouton Rothschild), and its fine, muscular, long-aged Cabernet-based wines are much sought-after.
The smaller estates may not be so famous, but for winelovers interested in tasting an authentic Pauillac without paying an eye-watering price tag, this can only be a good thing. So today, we are delighted to bring you a prestigious, beautifully aged Pauillac available in a fine six-bottle collection, at an impressive price for the quality.
Château Haut-Pauillac belongs to the Peyronnie family and boasts vineyards dotted between some of the finest estates – vines planted on gravel soils enjoying a climate moderated by their proximity to the Gironde estuary. Their exquisite claret is comprised mostly of inky, dark and powerful Cabernet Sauvignon, melded with a touch of rich, plummy Merlot, aged for 18 months in oak barrels, 15-20% of which were new. A further six years in the bottle has given the wine time to reach a delicious drinking window now – though you can certainly cellar it comfortably for many more years.
Look forward to lovely rich blackcurrant, blackberry fruit with beautiful violet aromas, and a delicious cedary touch. The palate is silky, with fine tannins and a long finish. Open an hour beforehand and decant before serving with your finest red meat dishes or a choice of firm farmhouse cheeses.
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With four Trophies and 80+ Golds, Château La Clarière is clear proof that Castillon wines can surpass those of Grand Cru St-Émilion. La Clarière deserves its title as “leading estate in Côtes de Castillon” (Decanter).
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With four Trophies and 80+ Golds, Château La Clarière is clear proof that Castillon wines can surpass those of Grand Cru St-Émilion. From the exceptional 2020 vintage, this rich, velvety claret, packed with fruit, deserves its five Golds.
This is one of those 'under-the-radar' regions I love to search out, home to the finest quality wines, but not so well-known. As Wine International says, "If it weren't for the [political] line dividing Castillon from Saint-Émilion, its wines would be twice the price. The hills are the same, the soil is the same, the exposure is the same." The estate has won over 150 awards, including the Paris Lauréat Prix d'Excellence – not once, but twice – and Decanter magazine calls it the "leading estate in the Côtes de Castillon". La Clarière is our flagship wine and absolutely no expense is spared. Low yields, careful hand-sorting, months ageing in the finest new French oak, and rigorous tasting ensure only the best parcels become La Clarière. Mostly Merlot, silky, elegant, and supple, with a dash of Cabernet Sauvignon for structure, and slightly portioned Malbec and Cabernet Franc for balance. It's truly magnificent!
So we were delighted when we finally secured access to some nearby white vineyards with incredible fruit that has allowed us to create the prestigious La Clarière Blanc. This dazzling white Bordeaux combines bright, character-filled Sauvignon Blanc and richer, creamier Sauvignon Gris to create an extraordinarily sensuous wine. It has enjoyed all the same lavish, no-expense-spared treatment in the winery usually accorded to the red, and the result is a citrussy, complex, textured wine that is absolutely irresistible. Oak fermented, lees stirred, and then aged in partnew oak barrels, the richness and complexity is reminiscent of the grand wines of Pessac Léognan. Smooth, rich, long and lavish … it's simply magnificent – a very worthy partner to the red. It's a truly fine dining partner that really shines when served with luxury cuisine.
