Château du Breuil 2016

Château du Breuil is an exceptional purchase – a mature claret with length and complexity from this well-positioned estate, with history dating back to the sixth century. Today it's under the same ownership as Château Cissac and the team take the same pride in both. The vineyards all lie on south-east-facing, clay-limestone slopes, leading down to a stream at the bottom. The team work hard amongst the vines, chopping back the foliage to ensure optimum sunshine and green harvesting (cutting off unripe grapes) to bring down yields. A classic blend of Bordeaux grapes – Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot – it was aged a year in both French and (unusually) American oak barrels, to lend it the structure to age. Great with game.