Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon join forces in this powerful, smooth and structured red with its flavours of red plums, dried thyme and black olives in a wine that drinks beautifully now, especially alongside savoury flavours such as mushrooms, aubergine and venison. 

Chateau Duhart-Milon is in the Pauillac appellation in the Medoc on Bordeaux' left bank and is owned by the Rothschild family, who acquired this 4er Cru chateau in 1962. 

The property is named after the Sieur of Duhart, who was a gun runner to Louis XIV, the original owner of the land. The second part of the name, Milan, comes from the small hamlet of Milan, which separates the Duhart-Milon vineyard from Chateau Lafite. 

Commanding Bordeaux made from Merlot and Petit Verdot from one of the estates owned by the Borie family of Ducru-Beaucaillou in Saint-Julien. This is a second tier wine from a great estate. 

The 2018 Grand-Puy-Ducasse is deep garnet-purple in color and has quite a lot of cedar/oak on the nose to begin, opening out to a core of warm black and red currants, stewed plums and mulberries with touches of pencil shavings, fried herbs, lavender and tapenade. Medium to full-bodied, the palate gives a firm, grainy frame with some chew from the oak and fresh, crunchy red and black fruit, finishing savoury.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown - 91 to 93

Fabulous example of structured black fruited Bordeaux offering superb value for money with dark summer berry flavours, notes of dried thyme and black olives combining in a wine of complexity. Smooth and long. 

The primary grape is Cabernet Sauvignon, which is balanced by Merlot and Cab Franc. These varieties, along with the incredibly gravelly soils which gave the region it?s name, give you an extremely earthy wine with plenty of power and character.

The nose has notes of dark fruit, damp grass, mushroom and crushed stones. The palate continues the trend but adds mouth drying tannins; dark fruit character comes through. The finish is slightly herbaceous with notes of toasted cedar.
 A great glimpse of Graves at a great price.

This cheeky little quaffer has a fresh and fragrant nose of red fruits and toasty elments. The palate is supple and balanced with silky tannins and further notes of red fruit.

90 Lisa Perrotti-Brown

"Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Kirwan is scented of red plums, cassis, redcurrants, earth and cigar box. The palate is medium-bodied, lean, chewy and lively with an earthy finish."

(89 - 91) Neal Martin (28th Apr 2017)

"The 2016 Kirwan is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot picked up 49 hectoliters per hectare between 27 September until 18 October. The nose needed some encouragement from the glass, perhaps not quite as cohesive as I was expecting, angular black fruit with a dash of white pepper. It just felt rather broody and unsettled at this early stage. On the palate, I discerned some hardness on the tannin, rendering this a more masculine Kirwan that will hopefully flesh out once in bottle. With a new winery, I am anticipating great things from Kirwan. This might be a wine that will blossom later than others, so I will keep a watchful eye."

A great red from one of the great appellations on the left bank of Bordeaux where Cabernet Sauvignon thrives. This is a wine for now and for ageing further; it can evolve positively for up to and beyond 10 years.

A powerful, deep and well-structured wine, round and elegant, with excellent ageing potential.

Chateau Laffitte Carcasset is a classic Saint-Estephe red wine. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it is crafted from the best plots in the vineyard. Since 2016, oenologist Hubert de Bouard and his team provide consulting on the winemaking process.

The wine is aged for 12 months in oak barrels, 45% of which are new. It is a powerful, deep and well-structured wine, round and elegant, with excellent ageing potential (an average of 15-20 years). Made primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon, the blend also includes a large percentage of Merlot, making it enjoyable to drink in its youth.

Chateau Larroque is based just outside the 'Graves' appellation in the southern part of Bordeaux.  Made from the classic blend of Bordeaux grapes, and matured for 12 months in French oak before further aging in bottle.

On first opening, medium bodied on the palate, red cherry and dried fruits, toasted almonds with dusty savoury bramble and spice. Once given a chance to breathe opens up to offer generous plump juicy dark fruits, cassis and liquorice.

Superb value for 'left bank' Bordeaux.