Canon-Fronsac AOCMerlot, Cabernet Franc7 haFounded 1988Gregoire and Chantal HubauWinemaker Gregoire HubauECOCERTCanon-Fronsac AOC
Canon-Fronsac producer representing the best of this underrated Right Bank appellation. 7 hectares of organic Merlot-Cabernet Franc on clay-limestone soils.
Tasting: Visits and tastings available by appointment.
Signature wines: moulin-pey-labrie
Scores: Wine Advocate 92 (2019), Decanter 91 (2018)
Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel (Moulis-en-Medoc AOC)Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot100 haFounded 1863Celine Villars-FoubetWinemaker Jean-Pierre FoubetMoulis-en-Médoc AOC
Moulis-en-Medoc Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel with 100 hectares. Named for Baudelaire's 'chase away the blues'; Cabernet-dominant with excellent value-to-quality ratio.
Tasting: Visits and tastings available.
Signature wines: chateau-chasse-spleen, l-heritage-de-chasse-spleen
Scores: Wine Advocate 93 (2016), Decanter 93 (2019)
Cru Bourgeois (Haut-Medoc AOC)Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc85 haFounded 1969Gautreau familyWinemaker Jean GautreauHaut-Médoc AOC
Haut-Medoc Cru Bourgeois that many consider above its classification. 85 hectares of Cabernet-dominant vines; Jean Gautreau's uncompromising quality standard since 1969.
Tasting: Cellar visits available by appointment.
Signature wines: chateau-sociando-mallet, la-demoiselle-de-sociando-mallet
Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2016), Decanter 94 (2018)
Premier Cru Classe (1855 classification)Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc80 haFounded 1572Mentzelopoulos familyWinemaker Philippe BascaulesMargaux AOC
Premier Cru Classe Bordeaux at Margaux AOC, estate founded 1572, now owned by the Mentzelopoulos family. Cabernet-dominant blends with 18 to 24 months in new oak barrel ageing.
Tasting: By appointment only, Monday to Friday; closed weekends, August, public holidays and harvest. Tasting for professionals only.
Signature wines: chateau-margaux-grand-vin, pavillon-rouge-du-chateau-margaux, pavillon-blanc-du-chateau-margaux
Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (2016), Wine Advocate 100 (2015)
Premier Cru Classe (1855 classification)Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot112 haFounded 1234Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite); Saskia de Rothschild, chairWinemaker Eric KohlerECOCERTPauillac AOC
First-growth Pauillac estate with 112 hectares of Cabernet-dominant vines. Owned by the Rothschild family; fully organic since 2024 with Saskia de Rothschild at the helm.
Tasting: Currently closed for renovations until 2026. Alternative visits at Chateau Duhart-Milon.
Signature wines: lafite-rothschild, carruades-de-lafite
Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (2003), Wine Spectator 100 (1996)
Premier Cru Classe (1855 classification)Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot78 haFounded 1331Groupe Artemis (Francois Pinault)Winemaker Helene GeninPauillac AOC
First-growth Pauillac estate with 78 hectares at the southeastern tip of Pauillac commune. Owned by Groupe Artemis since 1993; withdrew from en primeur system in 2012.
Tasting: By appointment only for professionals; visiting restricted.
Signature wines: latour-grand-vin, les-forts-de-latour, pauillac-de-latour
Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (2010), Wine Advocate 100 (2003)