Magnificent, rich Pomerol discovered at a family property flanked by the Great Names ' opposite Michel Rolland's Château Bon Pasteur, while Pétrus and Cheval Blanc (at £500 and £400 a bottle respectively) are a stone's throw away. Top vintage, too.
Unlike most Left Bank clarets, those from Bordeaux's Right Bank tend to be Merlot centric ' a variety that lends ample, mouthfilling characterful, juicy, ripe plum fruit even from an early age, and less of the tannins that Cabernet can exhibit. We've made this terrific charmer every vintage since 2004, persuading the family estate to part with a small vat of wine each year. Haut Brion trained chief winemaker at Le Chai Jean Marc Sauboua and his sidekick Mark Hoddy then take over, giving the wine a year's ageing in the finest Taransaud barrels ' normal stuff for our Le Grand Chai range.Velvet smooth with deep cherry, plum and vanilla and a long dark chocolatey finish, this is glorious claret for lamb. Decant early to let the wine breathe.