Château Pavie Decesse is a St. Emilion Grand Cru Classé property in the Côtes sub-district, considered the equal of its illustrious neighbour, Chateau Pavie. The origins of both can be traced back to ancient Roman times. The 3.5ha vineyard, on chalky, limestone and clay soils and contiguous with Pavie, is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Following cold maceration, the Chateau wine is vinified in temperature-controlled oak vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in French oak barrels. The wine is aged in 80% new oak for between 18 and 24 months, depending on vintage character. Production is small, around 650 dozen each year. The hedonistic Pavie Decesse style combines opulent, rich, sensuous textures with minerality, freshness and concentration. Due to its lush style Pavie Decesse drinks well young, yet does develop additional complexity with time in the cellar. Wine quality has been consistently excellent under the ownership, since 1997, of Gerard and Chantal Perse.

Château Latour is the epitome of power and bold concentration that is Pauillac. With a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon, the brilliant close knit tannin complimenting the vibrant cassis driven fruit is something to behold. It is often said that buyers of Latour worry about the wines they purchase will outlive them quite considerably such is the pedigree of such a wine. This is a definite concern for the 2009 vintage which is being reported as being the very best in living memory. The wine itself is a masterclass in concentration and power only with a robust and joyful front and mid-palate. Notes of blackberry and dark plum dance along with secondary characters of subtle oak and pencil shavings. A rambunctuous back palate that is almost thick and viscous that is truly forboding. Robert Parker Jnr has been quoted as saying

Château Lascombes was a small property by Bordeaux standards up until 1951, which then grew to beyond its means until the most recent ownership change which has seen better fruit selection and a creation of a second label to produce an estate wine of purity and concentrated flavours. Using the talents of Dr Alain Reynaud and Michel Rolland the wines continue to impress in recent years, namely this spectacular 2009 vintage which is proving to be one of the greatest vintages in the past 100. Even at this early stage the Lascombes looks superb with balance between power and opulence treading a near perfect line.

The history of Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron is a tale of two estates. The chateau and vineyard known as Pichon Baron was given in dowry to the founders daughter when she married Jacques du Pichon Longueville. After the death of their descendent, the Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville, in 1850 the estate was again divided - on his deathbed, he gave what became Chateau Pichon Baron to the men of his family, and what became Chateau Pichon Lalande to the women - resulting in, some say, more masculine and sensuous styles of wine respectively! Between the 1960s and the 1980s, the estate went through a period of rather lacklustre production - however, since 1990, they have been producing, according to many, some of the best wines in their history. The 2016 has earned high praise and glowing comparisons to their legendary 1990 Pichon Baron.

Château la Mission Haut-Brion is on uniquely stony soil in the Pessac-Léognan appellation close to the city of Bordeaux. It is a Cru Classé in the Graves Classification of 1953. The 22.5 hectare red wine vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon (46%), Merlot (44%) and Cabernet Franc (10%). The chateau wine is vinified in large (180hl) temperature-controlled, stainless steel vats and aged in 100% new French oak for an average of 22 months.

France's Bordeaux, is the spiritual home of the Cabernet family of grapes, which extends beyond Sauvignon and Franc to Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. If you love Margaret River Cabernet blends, or indeed the Merlot dominant reds of Hawkes Bay, NZ, then you must look at the wines upon which many of them have been modelled. This wine is Cabernet and Merlot, deep and rich, cassis and earthy cedar, structure and uncommon length - all hallmarks of Grand Cru Bordeaux.

It was with les Rouilleres that it all began, the St Nicolas cuvee par excellence: light, fruity and full of finesse. This wine epitomises everything that this unique terroir offers in terms of purity, freshness and pleasure.

Soft, smooth and a fantastic expression of Cheval Blanc. Sweet red cherries, black currants, lavender. The palate is silky with great length, all framed with the hallmark superb balance. Wonderfully elegant, with the dominance of Merlot in the blend playing all the right cards.