High on the gravel outcrop at the entrance to the Saint Estèphe appellation, Château Cos d’Estournel is unmissable and iconic by the design of the cellars with their unique pagodas. Owned by the luxury hospitality Reybier group, entering into the château is like entering into a luxury hotel. The same lavish care is given to the vines and the wine making. Stainless steel tronconic vats, with lifts taking wines up to the top of the cellars using gravity for a gentle extraction and 100% new oak. These are powerful expressions of Saint Estèphe underpinned by freshness from the clay subsoil.

Despite its high status, Lafitte remains a family owned and run vineyard under the management of Saskia Rothschild since 2018. She became the first female CEO and general director in 2021. Pioneering sustainable agriculture, with Technical Director Eric Kohler, Lafitte is known for its deep, deep gravel to the northern edge of Pauillac, the perfect place for Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon that dominates the blend. The very traditional winemaking here produces a wine that pairs elegance and power, with more elegance than power compared to its other 1st growth neighbours.

Obsessive attention to detail, plot by plot management, biodynamic viticulture and constant innovation keep this iconic wine at the top of the Bordeaux firmament. It helps that the owner, the Artemis luxury group, has the money to put behind their motivation. Removing themselves from the Primeur circus they still sell their wines via La Place but only when they consider them ready to drink, a decision that needed deep pockets to finance stock, and an impressive on-site storage facility.

Margaux, perhaps the most voluptuous, aromatic and sensual wine of the Médoc? A huge property with vines bordering the flood plains where the Dordogne and Garonne rivers meet to make the Gironde Estuary. Brought to its current level of excellence by the outstanding team of owner Corrinne Mentzelopolous and Paul Pontalier, this work is now continuing under her two children and Philippe Bascaulès. Look out for the excellent white Pavillon Blanc.

This large property on deep gravel and clay subsoil overlooks the Gironde estuary that brings gentles breezes across the vines keeping mildew at bay. Like the viticultural philosophy, the deep cellars are sustainable; solar panels, geothermal temperature control and carbon capture all show their commitment to both the environment and excellence.

Late to the classification party and all the more iconic for it, under the ownership of Philippe de Rothschild this property established itself in the firmament of Pauillac and Bordeaux. As well as its powerful Cabernet-driven wines, the property is known for introducing a new label designed by a different, renowned artist with every new vintage.
Philippe de Rothschild pioneered château bottling in the 1920s, a move that didn’t catch on in Bordeaux until the 1970s. Today the property is run by his grandchildren, as are Châteaux d'Armailhac, Clerc Millon and the Mouton Cadet range, the largest and best known branded negociant wine in Bordeaux.

Owned by the Sichel family and Malher Besse company, this property falls clearly into the super-second category, even though it’s a third growth. The wines are simply stunning with all the signature elegant voluptuousness of Margaux thanks in part to a high percentage of Merlot for the left bank. Biodynamic since 2011 and a pioneer of plot-by-plot viticulture and vinification thanks to a complex mosaic of soils close to the Garonne. Precision is the philosophy of CEO Thomas Duroux, and it shows in the wine.

The 1855 Médoc, Graves and Sauternes classification includes just one Graves property, Château Haut-Brion. It is the smallest of the first growths, 48 hectares are planted with red grapes and about 3 hectares to white.
Vines were probably planted here on the outskirts of the city by the Romans, and winemaking dates back to the 1500s. American Clarence Dillon bought the property in 1935, since 2008 it is run by fourth generation Prince Robert of Luxembourg.
Jean de Pontac started the dynasty that would make the property so famous, when he married into the family, built the château and increased the size of the vineyard. In the 17th century, several generations late, Arnaud de Pontac changed the style of Bordeaux wine, creating ‘The New French Claret’ topping up barrels and using sulphur, slowing oxidation allowing wines to age. Fashionable in the Taverns of London, the biggest Bordeaux wine market at the time, his son opened the first French wine bar ‘The Pontac’s Head’ after the great fire of London and the Haut-Brion brand was launched.
Now surrounded by the suburbs of the city, this urban vineyard is one of the first to harvest due to this warm microclimate. In 1961 they were the first to use stainless steel vats – a shocking innovation at the time. The new cellars are eco-certified.
Jean-Philippe Delmas is the 3rd generation of his family to make the wines and run the property.
Previously Château Bahans Haut-Brion, since 2007 the second wine is now sold as Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, and is also bottled in the unique Haut-Brion bottle which has been used at the property since the 1950s

Just across the road from Haut-Brion, the Dillon family bought the property in 1983. It takes its name from the community of Lazareth monks that lived here until the French revolution, building a chapel in 1698 that gives the name to the second wine.
Making white wine since 1927, known as Laville Haut-Brion until 2009, now it is simply Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc. Entering into the cloisters and ‘le grand chais’ built in 2007 still feels like a religious experience.

Production of white is so small, just 4 ha out of 29 as of the 2009 vintage, Haut Brion and La Mission produce one second white wine between them, La Clarté de Haut Brion.
The same dedicated team of Haut-Brion next door tends the vines and makes the wine.

Smith Haut-Lafitte has become a Bordeaux icon due to the dramatic transformations instigated by the Cathiard family since their arrival in 1990. They are pioneers in both wine tourism, biodynamic viticulture and precision wine making. They opened a 5* hotel and wine spa in the vines to welcome guests and created their own island nursey for their vines in the middle of the Garonne River. They have now invested in Napa!
The red wine is classified but not the white, although in many vintages the white out-prices the red. Both are delicious, consistent and pricey but their ‘second wines’ Les Hauts de Smith and Le Petit Haut Lafitte offer more affordable options.

A classic of Pessac-Léognan. A large property with consistent wines that never disappoint, both white and red are classified. Originally a medieval fortified farm, it is one of the largest domains in Bordeaux. Family owned and operated by the 4th generation of the Perrin family that rescued the abandoned property. With its long history it has some terrific stories, including the Bordelaise captured by a sultan who shipped white wine into the harem as ‘eau de carbonnieux’ as it was so limpid. Or the pecan tree said to have planted in the park by Jefferson when he visited in the late 1700s. In Bordeaux anything is possible!

It‘s a labour of love by Caroline and Xavier Perromat to renovate this vineyard and the classified monument of the château. It’s a responsibility they carry with grace, opening up the château to guests and using one of the oldest cellars in Bordeaux as a setting for a delightful ‘son et lumière’ that takes you through the genesis of the sweet Cérons wines. They also produce a large range of Graves wines, something for every palate and taste.

Another favourite, the wines are simply stunning, reserved and elegant, not unlike the manager Véronique Saunders, the 4thgeneration of her family even though they no longer own it. When her grandfather sold in 1998, the new owner, Robert Wilmers, asked her to stay. Wise choice, Véronique continues to guide the estate with the same level of passion. The new eco-cellar underlines their commitment to their environment, their people and of course the wines. Unusually for Pessac-Léognan they only produce red wines, but when you do something this well…

A proper château with turrets and a moat and has been in the de Bethmann family since the 1850s. Apparently a medieval hunting lodge of The Blanc Prince, the large property is dominated by ancient woodland with vines counting for just 60 of the 230 ha estate. This oasis of biodiversity so close to the city, reflects their organic viticulture. Recent replanting on historical plots has improved the red wine enormously, the wines are stunning and still remain good value, although, the secret is now out.

Since the 70s, two decades of rigour under the Lurton family brought Climens back to its first growth quality. In 1992, Bérénice Lurton took over, working with Corinne Comme to convert the entire vineyard to Biodynamics in 2010. The wines are simply stunning but tricky to find as yields are even lower than classic Barsac, thanks to the farming practices. Try to find the Asphodèle, the dry white named after a wild white lily that thrives on limestone - 100% Sémillon conceived with the help of Pascal Jolivet, from the Loire no less. In 2022, Berenice sold the Château to the Moitry family who are continuing this tradition of excellence.

Originally a 13th century fortress, and once the stables of Château d’Yquem. Third generation Aline Baly works in partnership with Mouton Rothschild to ensure technical excellence and marketing. In exceptional vintages they make de Cuvée Madame; a 100% Semillon and in 2010 they introduced the dry white ‘Opalie’.

This vineyard doesn’t really need any introduction, the only property in Bordeaux to reach this elevated status. It sits high on the plateau of Sauternes surrounded by all the other first growths of Sauternes perfectly placed for breezes coming up the Garonne river that help desiccate the botrytised berries. Continued investment by the LVMH group since their purchase in 2000 only reinforces the property’s iconic status. They are open 7 days a week by appointment.

In 2022, Sandrine Garbay, previously winemaker at Château Yquem, moved next door and is now at the helm of Château Guiraud, where the new owner Matthieu Gufflet entrusted her with overseeing the whole property. Guiraud has worked biodynamically since 1996, the first 1855 first growth to be certified organic in 2011, under the ownership of the Narbys.
The high percentage (35%) of Sauvignon gives the signature freshness and elegance. One of the pioneers of ‘dry Sauternes’, with G de Guiraud, they recently introduced a new dry white Grand Vin Blanc Sec de Château Guiraud.

When owner of Château La Tour Blanche, Daniel Iffla died in 1907 with no descendants, he left the property to the French state on condition that it operated as a free viticultural school. The school now welcomes 150 students that board at the property, with any profits contributing to the running of the school and therefore investing in the future quality of the golden wines of Bordeaux. Winemaking is left to the professionals, students have their own separate practice cellar. It’s an important community in this quiet corner of Bordeaux and an excellent, sustainably produced Sauternes.

Sixth generation Laure de Lambert Compeyrot shook things up when she took over this smallest of all the first growth Sauternes. She extended the range, adding a 100% dry white Sémillon, a sulphur-free, semi-sweet Bordeaux, and a sparkling Semillon ‘La Marquise’, in honour of her grandmother. The Latest 2022 ‘Grand Vin Blanc‘ is also 100% Semillon. Laure has embraced wine tourism with five exquisite guest rooms, stay over and you can taste her ‘Sauternes coffee’ with breakfast, made from beans matured in Sauternes barrels.

Star of James Bond films and villan of the recent reclassification. Co-owner, Hubert de Boüard was found guilty of a conflict of interest when the property was promoted to Grand Cru Classé A in 2012. Now under the management of his daughter Stephanie, 8th generation and third woman in charge of the property, they declined to participate in the 2022 classification.

In 2019 they moved the winemaking of the Carillon second wine, to a new eco-friendly wine cellar in Castillon. This means it no longer carries the appellation Grand Cru as that as to be made with the boundaries of Saint-Émilion.

A tiny and discreet property clinging to the steep east south-east facing hard limestone slopes, on the edge of the medieval town of Saint-Émilion. The sheltered terraces with thin clay topsoils protect the ancient (some 100 years old) mainly Cabernet Franc vines from frost. Château Ausone takes its name from the 4th century Roman Poet Ausonius, probably the first Bordeaux influencer.
A small medieval chapel with an ancient fresco of the Last Judgement reflects the religious history of the town, and the stone quarries under the vines were converted into cellars in the eighteenth century. It’s not all about the past, Alain Vauthier took over in the 1990s, bringing the property to its current iconic status. It is now run by his daughter Pauline.
In 2010, they modernized the cellar and have reduced new oak since the 2011 allowing the fruit to shine through the power.
Classified as a Grand Cru Classé A since the first classification, they withdrew in 2022.
If the astronomical prices are above your pay grade, search out for Vauthier’s other properties Château Moulin-Saint-Georges, Château de Fonbel, Château Haut-Simard, Château Simard, and Château La Clotte.

Dedicated to biodynamic viticulture and agro-forestry with fruit trees planted throughout the vines, the property is on the boundary of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol, enjoying some of the same famous blue clay of the neighbour Petrus. This gives the signature style of their Cabernet Franc that represents about half of the blend. Co-owned by LVMH and Baron Albert Frère, when shares changed hands in 2009 the price was rumoured to be around 15 Million Euros per hectare - the most expensive per ha transaction in the history of Bordeaux.
Cheval Blanc declined to participate in the 2022 Saint-Émilion classification, but it really doesn’t need Premier Grand Cru Classé A on the label to keep its iconic status. The second wine, Le Petit Cheval is not made every year, in 2015 they were so pleased with the quality it all went into first wine. An AOC blanc Petit Cheval Blanc was introduced in 2014, originally from field-grafted clones of Sauvignon Blanc on vines from Château La Tour du Pin Figeac, it now includes Semillon planted after the Tour du Pin Figeac purchase in 2006.

Although it dates back to the 2nd century, it was divided in the 1800s which is why you’ll see other properties carrying the name Figeac. It’s still a large, 53 ha vineyard of which 41 ha are planted to more or less equal parts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
Thierry Manoncourt was the owner until his death in 2010. An agro-engineer he was really innovative, the third Bordeaux property to use stainless steel, the first to create a château website in 1990 and use infra-red to survey terroir in 2009. When Figeac failed to obtain the coveted A status in 2012 his descendants instigated a major shakeup, changed the management and invested $15m in new cellars. It paid off, they finally achieved Grand Cru Classé 'A' status in the 2022 classification. A well-deserved accolade.

Jacques Thienpont bought the 2-hectare property right next door to family property Château Vieux Château Certan (VCC), for a million French Francs in 1979, a lot of money back then. Le Pin was born, named after a single Parasol pine tree planted next to the little house. The wine was originally made in a shed. The replanted vineyard grew to 2.7ha over the next few years. The family are Belgian wine merchants who have owned vines on the right bank since the 1920.
The 100% Merlot vines are tended by Alexandre Thienpont, and his son Guillaume who run VCC, wines made and marketed by Jacques.
Robert Parker’s praise placed the wine in the firmament of Pomerol, and of Bordeaux since it is often the most expensive wine of the region.
In 2010 they built a funky new winery.
Also look for Château Puygueraud, in Francs Côtes de Bordeaux made by their cousin Nicolas. Nicolas’ son, Cyrille manages L’If (named after a yew tree) in Saint-Émilion they bought in 2010 near Troplong Mondot.

This is what a garage wine looks like. Visiting l’Eglise Clinet is like going into the garage of Denis Durantou’s 19th century farmhouse in the shadow of the impressive Pomerol church that gives the estate its name. It’s tiny, 4.4 ha and there’s nothing flash here, just like the personality of its late owner. The white walls of the tasting room showcase his wife’s art and you spit into a plastic bucket.
Denis Durantou took over the family vineyard in 1983, within a couple of years it started to shine. Merlot-driven wines with some old Cabernet Franc vines tucked in next to the cemetery. Even at this size everything is plot-by-plot farmed and vinified, producing just 1000-1500 cases a year. The second wine, Petit l’Eglise is made from the sandier plots.
Passionate about agriculture and soils Denis would grab and handful of sticky clay from a ditch to show you exactly what Pomerol was all about.
Sadly Denis died in 2020, his daughters Noëmie and Constance now run the domain, and also continue producing wines from the other family Châteaux; Cruzelles and Chenade in Lalande de Pomerol, Saintayme in Saint-Émilion and Montlandrie in the Côtes de Castillon, that he was particularly passionate about.

Known for its concentrated, modern style of Saint-Émilion, personified by the huge new château on the south facing foothills of Saint-Émilion, the sloped shouldered bottles are perhaps a statement of this style introduced with the ownership of the Perse family in 1998.
To commemorate their promotion to Grand Cru Classé ‘A’ status in 2012, a new gold and black label replaced the classic design.
The second wine is called Aromes de Pavie, don’t confuse it with Esprit de Pavie which, although 100% estate owned, is sourced from their vineyards in Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux and younger Saint-Emilion Grand Cru vines of Château Pavie and Château Monbousquet.

A bit like Haut-Brion, Petrus is also an intertwined history of two families, one owners the other winemakers.
Owned by the Moueix family (along with other leading Pomerol vineyards) Petrus was managed by Christian Moueix from 1970 to 2008 with Jean-Claude Berrouet as cellar master since 1963. As well as Petrus, Berrouet was responsible making the wine for the entire Moueix portfolio.
Jean-François Moueix, inherited the property and took over the management in 2009, working with Olivier Berrouet (Jean-Claude’s son) as technical director. Jean-Claude’s sister-in-law, Diana Berrouet Garcia makes the wines at Le Pin – Pomerol is nothing if not incestuous.
Jean-François now owns Petrus and Bordeaux negociant Duclot, working with his son Jean. In 2018 Jean-François sold 20% for 200m euros putting the value of the estate at 1 billion Euros.
What makes Petrus so special? The terroir of the Pomerol plateau is a blend of clay, gravel, sand, and crasse-de-fer (iron oxide), that supposedly gives the wines their beautiful truffle aromas as they age. Petrus sits at the highest point of the plateau (39m). Most of the 11.5 ha of Petrus vines are on the ‘button’ of the famous blue clay. It’s this clay that gives the wines their sensuous, rich, and opulent character that are now 100% Merlot since the 2000s.
It was the wine critic Robert Parker that put Pomerol in the public eye, with the 1982 vintage; since then, the entire Pomerol appellation has risen to the challenge, producing wines worthy of its terroir, with prices to match.
At Petrus, increased selection has reduced the quantity of wine. In the 1970s average yields were around 70 hectolitres per hectare, today they are below 40 hectolitres per hectare which also goes a long way to explain retail prices over $1,000 per bottle on release.

Come for the wine, stay for the view. Sitting high above the vines in the Côtes de Bordeaux, the view from the terrace of Château Biac perfectly illustrates the rolling slopes that dominate the Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux appellation. Tony and Youmna Asseily produced their first vintage in 2007 and are now joined by their children. The original 17th century budlings are now guest houses, and the beautiful 18th century Château the family home. They produce three reds, a dry white and the elegant Cadillac sweet wine.

The Cotes de Castillon outpost of the Von Neigpperg family owners of Château Canon la Gaffelière and La Mondotte. They bring all their Saint-Émilion expertise to bear on this property that remains excellent value for money. It’s also an impressive place to visit, an ancient château that takes its names from the ‘needles’ cut into the limestone outcrop that runs from Saint-Émilion to Bergerac.

Estelle Roumage, the third generation wine maker at Château Lestrille, showcases her passion for the environment through her labels, her bag in box wines and her latest project, a Miyawaki micro forest. Like many Entre-Deux-Mers properties struggling to remain competitive at this end of the market, Estelle produces a range including whites, reds, rosés, clairets, sparkling and even a multi-vintage blend. Excellent value everyday drinking organic wines. What is there not to love!

Another property offering that signature diversity of styles found in the Entre-Deux-Mers. Sisters Marie and Sylvie Courcelle co-own Château Thieuley and never stop innovating at the family vineyard. Even being so daring as to introduce non-traditional varieties such as Chardonnay, Syrah and now hybrids into the mix, although of course sold separately as Vin de France. They also have a lot of fun with their ‘deux soeurs’ labels.

Stéphane Derenoncourt is a leading Bordeaux wine consultant; he has made wine across France and the globe. His philosophy is all about ‘an expression of place’, his place is Domaine de l’A, a 12 ha vineyard in Sainte-Colombe in Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux on the very edge of Saint Emilion and the same ‘asterides’ limestone with veins of deep clay. With no formal training but having worked as a labourer and wine maker on the right bank, he wanted to grow and make his own wine before launching into consultancy. With his wife Christine, they bought their first 2ha in 1999 and Domaine de l’A was born. In 2023, after 20 years, he handed the consultancy over to his team of young oenologists. He now concentrates on the property working with his son Theo.
His signature is plot by plot, precision viticulture, they have always farmed organically, although only recently certified. The cellar is built from 100% natural materials, and the wine is plot by plot fermented in small, wooded vats, not always 100% destemmed (he has interesting thoughts about stems and climate change) using indigenous yeasts with gentle extraction. The wine is stunning. There’s a tiny 0.2 ha plot of Chardonnay if you can find it.