Etoile de Timberley Cremant de Bordeaux

Made with a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Semillon, this is a lovely fresh fizz with a creamy smooth mousse, very enjoyable as an aperitif and terrific value. 12.5% M&S £10.00

2023 Chateau Thierley

Entre de Mers, made at a small winery by two sisters, a blend of 45% Semillon, 40% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Sauvignon Gris, a very elegant unoaked white. Served with duck liver pate which matched it beautifully. Wine Society £10.95

2021 Chateau Rochemorin

A typical traditional everyday Entre de Mers, served with trout, The Bordelais eat a lot of river fish and this gently oaked wine, creamy from lees ageing and a slight vanilla finish, was made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. No grassiness, no gooseberries, the diametric opposite of New World Sauvignon Blanc, Very enjoyable. Waitrose Cellar £19.99

2023 Chateau Graves de Bertin

Another Entre-de-Mers wine, a basic red Bordeaux from Merlot (75%) and 25% Cabernet Franc. Purple on the rim, no jamminess with the Cab Franc evident in the back palate. Served with a delicious ham hock rillette with cornichons and pistachio salt, this was a lovely match-up.
Wine Society £8.50

2019 Chateau Pey La Tour Reserve de Château Bordeaux Superieur Dourth

The Superieur classification is considered to be the closest to the New World style, rich and ripe on the palate. Slightly brown on the rim despite being relatively young, the tannins were smooth and mature. Mainly Merlot with small amounts of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon, a rich if somewhat anonymous wine. Wine Society £11.95

2018 Chateau de Pitray Madam de Pitray, Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux

An example of a Right Bank wine, grown on the cool clay, mainly Merlot with some Cabernet Franc and 10% Malbec. This is a very similar terroir to Saint Emilion and, served with a delicious cassoulet, it matched wonderfully well, probably better than the more austere Left Bank offering below. There was a touch of “brandy burn” on the palate; reasonable value. Wine Society £17.50

2016 Chateau La Bosc St Estephe Cru Bourgeoise, Vignoble Dourthe

To compare, this Left Bank offering was rather more austere and reserved. An elegant wine with a touch of cigar-box and spice on the nose. This also went well with the cassoulet but lacked the warmth of the Right Bank wine in favour of greater structure. From roughly 50:50 Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with a seasoning of Petit Verdot. Decent value. Wine Society £29.50

NV Ulysse Cazabonne Sauternes The Wine Society

This a negociant wine so we do not know the source, but the general consensus is that is made from declassified Chateau Yquem grapes, no less! A lovely honeyed wine to drink with that trademark acidity to balance the sweetness, it is telling that such an expensive way of making wine offers so little financial reward to the producer due to the unfashionable nature of sweet wines; still, very good value for us and a nice finish to the evening with a lovely sweet tart and cheese to accompany it. Wine Society £21.00/75cl