Château Blaignan Cru Bourgeois 2013

American wine guru Robert Parker declared that Cru Bourgeois “represents outstanding value and quality”. Unlike the Classed Growth classification, Cru Bourgeois status has to be earned every year at a blind tasting of the wines. So there’s no resting on the proverbial laurels. For this admittedly tricky vintage (August hail tore a swathe through the vineyards and some lost their entire harvest), the property brought in the renowned winemaker of Château Angélus, Hubert de Bouärd, to supervise. The result is a succulent, pretty claret with blueberry and cassis flavours, firm tannins, spicy oak and structure. It’s not for laying down, but for enjoying over the next five-plus years. Open early and enjoy with roasted meats or farmhouse cheeses.