Here are our Top Choices for
RED WINE
A focused range of reds offering depth, approachability, and structure, suited to elegant dinners without overwhelming service or palates.
FRANCE
Red
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is situated at the heart of the Pessac-Léognan appellation. It boasts a rich history dating back to 1365, making it one of Bordeaux's oldest estates.
The expansive 78-hectare estate dedicates 67 hectares to the production of red wines, featuring a blend of 35% Merlot, 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Cabernet Franc. Additionally, 11 hectares are allocated for crafting predominantly Sauvignon Blanc whites. The wines of Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte are celebrated for their vibrant expressiveness and intricate complexity, highlighted by the perfection of ripened fruits.
Jean-François de Pontet, royal governor of the Médoc, combined several vineyard plots in Pauillac, in the 18th century. Years later, his descendants added neighbouring vines in a place called Canet. This was the beginning of one of the largest properties of the Médoc.
A century later, Château Pontet-Canet was included in the famous classification of 1855, thus confirming its membership as a member of the Médoc elite. This privileged position did not go unnoticed by one of the most important Bordeaux negociants of the time, Herman Cruse, who bought the estate in 1865. He built new wineries, modernised the winemaking facilities, and established the reputation of wine around the world. The Cruse family owned Pontet-Canet for 110 years, until another negotiant (of Cognac this time), Guy Tesseron, acquired it in 1975.
For more than two centuries, Pontet-Canet has been owned by three different families. Today it is directed by Alfred Tesseron with his niece Melanie (daughter of Gerard Tesseron) who is a descendant of Guy Tesseron. Thirty years after their arrival in Pauillac, the Tesseron family is proud to know that some of the vineyards have been gradually replanted and the buildings and winemaking facilities have been renovated.
Perfectly located beside Cheval Blanc and L'Evangile, Château La Conseillante has a rich history of producing exceptional wines that are always crafted with finesse and without excessive extraction. Louis Nicolas acquired it in 1871, and it has remained in his family's hands ever since. The vineyard spans 11.8 hectares, with 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc planted.
Château Beychevelle, a prestigious estate in Bordeaux's Saint-Julien appellation, boasts magnificent gardens and excellent wines. Their powerful and structured wines embody the finesse of the Saint-Julien terroir. Crafted for long-term aging, these wines evolve superbly over the years. The 90-hectare vineyard benefits from splendid Garonne gravelly slopes and proximity to the Gironde estuary, ensuring a favorable climate.
Château Palmer has a rich history dating back to 1814 when Colonel Charles Palmer acquired the property, then known as Château de Gascq, from a recently divorced lady. Recognizing the quality of the wine produced there, Palmer renamed it Château Palmer. He expanded the vineyards significantly and later sold the estate to the Pereire family in 1843. The Pereire family invested in modernizing the château and built the iconic structure in 1856. Over the years, Château Palmer went through various ownership changes and is currently majority-owned by the Mahler-Besse and Sichel families. The estate has always embraced modern technologies to enhance its winemaking facilities.
Château Cheval Blanc Le Petit Cheval is an exquisite red wine blend made from Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes, classified as an AOC Saint-Émilion Grand Cru by Château Cheval Blanc. The estate, located in Bordeaux, produces renowned Cabernet Franc wines, striking a balance between immediate enjoyment and aging potential. The vineyards cover 39 hectares with gravel and sandstone soils over clay, and meticulous hand-harvesting ensures top-quality grapes. Le Petit Cheval is aged for 13 to 18 months in French oak barrels, resulting in an elegant, rich, and long-lasting Grand Cru wine, perfect for both young enjoyment and aging.
Figeac, a historic estate, played a part in the creation of Cheval Blanc. They share exceptional gravel soil and produce wines known for their richness, delicacy, elegance, impressive bouquet, and remarkable longevity.
Les Griffons de Pichon Baron reveals a deep purple colour. The nose is delicate with aromas of black fruit, subtle wood, tobacco and cedar. The generous palate is fruit-driven and well-structured with ample tannins. The finish is long and powerful with notes of blueberry and black cherry. This wine is well-balanced, rich and harmonious with great freshness. A classic cuvée, very typical of Pauillac.
Ruby red with reddish edges high layer.
On the nose and after three hours of aeration it is intense and very clean. There is a beautiful floral range, a red fruit in jam, light and charming spices, touches of noble woods and balsamic and liquorice memories. Clear, expressive and very pleasant.
In the mouth it surprises with its good balance, it is wide and tasty. Of powerful attack, good development, a correct acidity and a wide and long finish leaving memories of red fruit and spices. It surprises you with its well-integrated and round tannin that delights you at the table.
96+ Parker Points
The 2018 Pape Clement is composed of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc, and is aged for around 18 months in 60% new oak barrels. It presents a medium to deep garnet purple color and opens with lively aromas of crushed black cherries, stewed black plums, and black raspberries. These are complemented by hints of violets, star anise, cardamom, camphor, and a burst of iron ore.
Deep purple-black, initially impenetrable, slowly reveals preserved plum, blueberry coulis, molten licorice, underbrush, lavender, iron ore, crushed stone, charcoal, Indian spices and a hint of red rose. Full-bodied, rich and tightly knit, layered fruit, spice and mineral with fine tannins, bright freshness and epic, lingering finish.
60% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot
Château Lafite Rothschild is considered to be among the top five most prestigious wines in the world. It is the best of the First Classified Growths of 1855, with a wine tradition dating back to 1620.
From Cardinal Richelieu to the historic American President Thomas Jefferson, notable figures globally have succumbed to the allure of this exceptional wine with a distinctive soul and unparalleled refinement.
In their youth, Château Lafite Rothschild's wines exude the austerity and depth characteristic of great vintages, while aging bestows upon them the nobility inherent in the estate's signature bouquet.
The 2010 Cheval Blanc contains 2% press wine and was entirely aged in new oak barrels for 18 months. The final blend of 54% Cabernet Franc and 46% Merlot has the tell-tale berry/floral nose with subtle hints of menthol, blueberry, raspberry and flowers.
Le Pin, is a rich, expansive, 100% Merlot wine that soars from the glass with aromas of raspberry preserve, plums, wild berries, rose petals and licorice, framed by a deftly judged patina of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, supple and velvety, it's broad and enveloping, with a fleshy core of fruit that's framed by lively acids and powdery tannins, concluding with a long, aromatic finish. Rich in gravel on the surface, Le Pin's vines are rooted in clay, which no doubt helps to explain how this wine can perform so well in warm, dry vintages. - William Kelley, RobertParker.com
The 2013 Le Chapelle d’Auson is the result of a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, raised in 85% new oak, this has a light, floral bouquet with touches of rose petals infusing the dusty red fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannins, pointed acidity and a simple, almost Left Bank style finish. Fine.
The 2019 Le Chapelle d’Ausone is a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, deep garnet-purple coloured. It gallops out with energetic notes of juicy blackberries, warm plums, and redcurrant jelly, plus suggestions of sassafras, cedar chest, menthol, and aniseed. Full-bodied, it is rich and spicy in the mouth with a lively backbone and super-fine tannins, finishing very long and fragrant.
Château La Fleur-Pétrus holds a prestigious position among the esteemed vineyards of Pomerol. Its roots trace back to the 18th century when it was named for its location across the localities of 'Petrus' and 'La Fleur.' Acquired by Jean-Pierre Moueix in 1950, this historic estate, exclusively situated on the plateau, embodies the excellence of the Pomerol appellation. The unique personality of Château La Fleur-Pétrus emerges from the careful amalgamation of gravel and clay terroirs, which add distinct nuances to each parcel, elevating the wine's identity.
Carruades De Lafite is the second wine of Château Lafite-Rothschild.
Judging by the way in which Grand Vin has evolved in the last twenty years, it is possible to affirm that Carruades wines resemble it, although they maintain a personality of their own product of the greater proportion of Merlot in its composition and of plots identified as producers of Carruades. The origin of the name comes from the Carruades plateau, a name given to a set of plots located behind the château and acquired by Château Lafite in 1845.
In the 19th century, wines from the Carruades were marketed independently of Château Lafite, but were finally absorbed. The name Carruades was then taken up to designate the Second Vin de Château Lafite, first called "Moulin des Carruades" and then "Carruades de Lafite" from the 1980s.
Château Margaux, dominated by 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The weather conditions, with a drought in July and favorable mid-September weather, influenced the vineyard's water content. The result is an elegant wine with nuanced aromas, powerful complexity, velvety tannins, and a lingering finish. A true classic from Château Margaux.
Château L’If, owned by Jacques Thienpont, who also owns the esteemed Pomerol property Le Pin, was acquired in 2010. Situated on the St-Emilion plateau, facing the village and near Troplong-Mondot, the 8-hectare vineyard underwent meticulous mapping and partial replanting to reduce Cabernet planting. Each parcel is carefully managed separately in both vineyard and winery. With a limited annual production, this wine, backed by a respected figure like Jacques Thienpont, is expected to follow in the footsteps of its renowned Pomerol sibling and become a highly sought-after and anticipated vintage.
Located on the eastern part of the Saint-Emilion plateau next to Troplong-Mondot, Chateau La Mondotte benefits from an exceptional terroir. Its clay limestone soil, coupled with very silty clay and rocky subsoil, possesses all the natural qualities needed to produce exceptional wine. The vineyard boasts an average vine age of 50 years and exclusively consists of premium grape varieties, with 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. Merlot ripening is consistently early and complete. This results in La Mondotte, deeply-colored, well-structured, and remarkably opulent. Moreover, the terroir imparts an unmatched finesse to the wine.
Petrus, a legendary Bordeaux wine, boasts an exceptional terroir and closely guarded expertise. Founded by the Arnaud family in the 19th century, it gained prominence when Edmonde Loubat recognized its potential and partnered with Jean-Pierre Moueix in 1945. Together, they elevated Petrus to greatness, becoming especially renowned in the United States with the help of Kennedy's endorsement. Following Loubat's death, Jean-Pierre Moueix took sole ownership, enlisting winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet. Today, Jean-François and Jean Moueix, along with Olivier Berrouet, continue the legacy of Petrus.
The estate spans 11.5 hectares of vineyards on a unique clay hill, providing excellent water supply to the 100% Merlot grape variety. Aged in new French oak barrels for 18 to 20 months, Petrus displays unmatched olfactory and taste characteristics—velvety, deep, spicy, and irresistibly truffled. This extraordinary wine leaves an indelible memory to those fortunate enough to savor it, solidifying its place among the most revered Bordeaux wines.