Château Haut Prieur 2012

<p> When it comes to spotting great buys from Bordeaux, we like to think we’re ahead of the game. Our man on the ground, Jean-Marc Sauboua (otherwise known as ‘JMS’), was born and bred there and his little black book of names and addresses reads like a ‘who’s who’. “Close your eyes, take a sip and you will be transported to one of the world’s greatest wine regions” (Jean-Marc Sauboua, Buyer for Bordeaux, 2015. </p> <p> While visiting vineyards of the Blaye region, directly across the Gironde estuary from the Haut-Médoc, ‘JMS’ paid a visit to three lovely ladies at Haut Prieur. Mesdames Baudin, Bonnisset and Jean-Baptiste showed him their tiny 8 hectares of old vines, explained their environmentally friendly approach to farming, and, as is often the way in France, after a delicious lunch and an extensive tasting, a deal was struck! </p> <p> Boasting an elite Gold medal from a top French wine show, Jean-Marc says “this is one of his favourite wines of the vintage”. Made from plummy Merlot and inky Malbec, this old vine cuvée is a classic petit château claret in every sense. Enjoy with grilled red meats or a fine selection of cheeses. </p>