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.

Just across a small country road from Boutenac, where renowned French winemaker Gérard Bertrand makes his £40+ a bottle Corbières, is the village of Fabrezan. It boasts equally impressive, stony vineyards. It's where, in fact, Tony Laithwaite bought his first Corbières 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, but until this young couple took over, all the grapes were sold to the local coop. J-B and Amelie took over in 2007, pieced together a tiny shed winery and starting making their own. This fabulous red is the result.

Château Gigault was acquired in 1998 by Christophe Reboul, who had purchased Blaye's Château Les Maréchaux the year before. He immediately employed Stéphane Derenoncourt, who makes wine at some of Saint-Emilion’s greatest estates (La Mondotte, Canon La Gaffelière and Pavie Macquin), as consultant winemaker.

The château releases two wines – a traditionally made claret and this, their no-expense-spared Cuvée Viva, named after Reboul's late daughter. Critic Robert Parker described it as “consistently one of my picks as an overachieving wine”, while James Suckling considers it "excellent value". Hand-picked, low-yield Merlot aged in new oak, this is a rich, velvety, well-structured claret. Decant for an hour before serving. Ideal with lamb.

Nicolas and Miren de Lorgeril bought this beautiful property, tucked away in the rocky Languedoc hills, in 2007 and have devoted their lives to upgrading the château and vineyards. Their scented hillsides are strewn with vineyards and ‘garrigue’, the natural olive, pine and wild herb flora that can’t help but lend this wine its own special wildness.

Saint Chinian is renowned for deep, dark, spicy reds based on Syrah and Grenache. Sometimes Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault are added, but there is always a refreshing mineral quality, and you’ll find that in this superb red. Winemaker Bernard Durand uses his New World winemaking experience (in Argentina and New Zealand) to make the fruit sing out. A top choice with coq au vin or lamb dishes.

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.