The best

• red wine
• white wine
• champagne
• rosé
• whisky
• spirits
• beer

deals in Australia

This château produces full-bodied, rounded wines that reveal fruity flavours and aromas of black fruit, mocha and liquorice. The wines are aged for 18 months before being bottled. A nephew of the famous German composer Mendelssohn was the owner of this beautiful vineyard at the outbreak of the First World War. The French government confiscated the property and sold it at auction. It was bought by a textile entrepreneur who, following the crisis in 1929, was obliged to sell it again, but divided the property into several parts. The buildings in Margaux were sold as one lot, and the vineyard was split into two. The name disappeared. It was not until 1981 that Lucien Lurton, having patiently reassembled the pieces of the puzzle and acquired beautiful premises in Cantenac, decided to relaunch Desmirail. As at his other properties, he installed stainless steel vats and a barrel cellar. The second wine is sold under the Château de Fontarney label.

Grand Cru Classé. Merlot 80%, Cab Franc 10%, Cab Sav 10%. These wines are rich and concentrated. Since 1990 they have improved under new ownership and show good typicity for St-Émilion.

This is a complex blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc finished with Carmenere and Petit Verdot - flavours and perfume are thus layered, intense, detailed and glorious. A cavalcade of fruit, spice, earth, savouriness and beautiful wood handling. The estate is managed by Patrick Leon, whose talents are writ large in the finesse of handling the complex array of fruit, and judicious use of winemaking technique to elicit this most elegant yet finely wrought style. It's relative approachability is another key to this wines excellence.

A stones throw from the famed Chateau Beychevelle, the estate is set in the south of the St Julien appellation and notable for vitality, finesse and elegance. The wine here is produced by Patrick Maroteaux whose increasingly influence is in turn elevating the quality and reputation of these wines.