Producer · Bordeaux, France

Château de Pitray

The Simard de Pitray family have owned Château de Pitray for more than 600 years. No other Bordeaux property has been in one family's hands for so long. Jean, the 25th generation, runs it today.

It lies only eight kilometres from Saint-Emilion, to the east, on the same clay-limestone plateau. In 2020 Jean's friend Nina Mitjavile, who used to be head winemaker at her family's right-bank estates, saw what these soils could do. Yields came down, new oak was cut back, and Nina is now the consultant winemaker.

The 36 hectares of vines are mostly Merlot, with Cabernet Franc and a little Malbec. No herbicides are used, and oak trees have been planted for wildlife. The reds are plush and Merlot-led, with Cabernet Franc giving them shape.

Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec · £21.49 a bottle