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.

The second wine of Chateau Margaux came about partly due to misfortune - when an attack of phylloxera decimated the vineyards, necessitating a replanting of the majority of their vineyards. The lack of grapes eliminated the possibility of a First Growth Quality wine and led to the production of their second wine - the Pavillon Rouge de Chateau Margaux, the first official vintage of which was released in 1906. Renowned as a sterling example of a second wine, the 2016 has been hailed as a particularly superb vintage. Medium-bodied, silky, intense and tannic, it continues its impressive trajectory year upon year.

Château Latour à Pomerol is one of the leading Pomerol properties and - while unclassified - one of the great crus of the Gironde. Latour à Pomerol consists of just under 8 hectares of vineyards split into two plots: the first is known as Les Grandes Vignes and is located on a gravel outpost next to the Church of Pomerol. The second plot lies on sandy, lighter soils and is to be found on the western side of the Pomerol plateau. Latour a Pomerol's grapes (90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc) are hand harvested and then fermented in temperature controlled concrete vats. The wine is then matured in small oak barrels (50% new) for 18 months. It is bottled unfiltered. Latour á Pomerol produces sumptuous, meaty, concentrated and full-bodied Pomerols that often require at least 10 years of cellaring. In the context of other top class Pomerols they remain underpriced.

Majestic, intense, full-bodied and tannic, Cos dEstournel is considered the leading wine of St Estèphe. Highly tannic in its youth, over time it develops much much like the great wines of adjoining Pauillac. A true "super second" growth.

The grand vin 2017 Chateau Cos D'Estournel comprises 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and 1% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot brought up in 60% new French oak. It is a lively and expressive vintage. It is full bodied, tannin-abundant, yet tight and reserved on the palate. It will age very well.