Château La Mission Haut-Brion is an estate in the Pessac-Léognan appellation in the northern Graves, a few miles southwest of Bordeaux's city center. Its near-neighbor and sister estate Château Haut-Brion was the only estate from the region featured in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, but La Mission Haut-Brion (rated a Graves Grand Cru in the 1959 rankings) is often judged and priced as the equal of Haut-Brion and the other first growths.

Things were really getting into their stride at this point at La Gaffelière, with a clear step forward in terms of precision, balance and power. The replanted Cabernet Franc had now entered its second decade, starting to express undercurrents of black pepper spice, liquorice and gentle floral aromatics, adding acidity and power without overdoing anything. It's a great wine, with the generosity and impact of a St-Emilion Premier Cru Classé, building in complexity slowly over the palate. This will deliver for many decades. Jane Anson Decanter 94 Points

An attractive, dense red with a garnet tint. The nose opens on fragrant, juicy, fresh fruit notes. With airing, subtle spice and chocolate aromas bring a certain succulence. After a fresh and well-structured attack, refined, silky tannins emerge on the full and dense mid-palate, while crushed blackcurrant, cocoa and liquorice flavours give the wine excellent aromatic length. The flavours linger on the remarkably long, harmonious and balanced finish.

The old school of the UK wine market have long loved the wines of Chateau Talbot, and the 2010 would have them purring. Chateau Talbot is a producer that occupies a large (102 hectares) swathe of land under vine in Medoc and makes wines that are set to a more traditional style, including rich wood scents, firm tannins, some rustic charm and a cassis-meets-violet fruit profile. This is a superb release of the wine, reminscent of classic Talbots that are sinewy when young, but still approachable, and for enthusiasts, glorious with cellar time.