English-owned Gavin Quinney's benchmark Entre-Deux-Mers blanc: citrussy, grassy Sauvignon Blanc-led with a Semillon mid-palate weight. Decanter 91 points 2020. Excellent value for classic Bordeaux blanc.
Address: 33670 Creon, France, Bordeaux
The second wine of Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel Chasse-Spleen; classic Moulis typicity with dark fruit and structured tannins at well under EUR 20. An intelligent entry point to the Medoc for value seekers.
The cooperative of 230 Saint-Emilion growers produces Grand Cru-level quality from a wide range of limestone and clay parcels. Their Gallus cuvee and L'Excellence range regularly score 88-91 points at accessible prices.
Fronsac's flagship estate at 60 hectares; structured, ageworthy Merlot-Cabernet Franc blends from limestone terraces. Decanter 93 points 2018; remarkable quality-to-price proposition versus comparable Right Bank peers.
The second wine of Lynch-Bages carries true Pauillac terroir: dark cassis, cedar, and structure. Accessible within the EUR 25 ceiling in many vintages; far better than most second wines at this price tier.
Organic 7-hectare Canon-Fronsac estate producing benchmark clay-limestone Merlot-Cabernet Franc at under EUR 20. Wine Advocate 92 points 2019; Decanter 91 points 2018. Superb local grape character at a price well below equivalent Right Bank.
Second wine of Sociando-Mallet, a Cru Bourgeois that many critics rank above many classified growths in quality. La Demoiselle carries genuine Haut-Medoc character and Gautreau's uncompromising extraction approach at a fraction of the grand vin price.
