2021, Château Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge, PESSAC-LÉOGNANBordeaux Blend: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot. Daniel and Florence Cathiard. Very individual and seductive wines which combine flavours of classic earthy Graves with silky and seductive new oak from barrels produced by their in house cooper. This is a cool climate savoury vintage where the best wines offer clarity of flavour and precision, and you are given a masterclass here in how to do that effectively. Well balanced and

Ducru Beaucaillou is on top form

then rests for six months in concrete tanks before being bottled

but it is balanced by fresh mint leaf

espresso and licorice all meld together

in all likelihood

The 2022 Capbern has an airy

***88-89 Jasper Morris MW

Feels a touch tannic right now

but here you get precision and purity

Grapes are manually sorted by a team of 30 people on specially made sorting tables

bags of pure

Well balanced and succulent architecture