Château La Tour du Roch-Milon 1969

The vines of Château Tour du Roch-Milon perch on the same gravelly ridge as Château Mouton, one of Bordeaux’s ‘famous five’ First Growths. In fact, their vines share the same vineyard, demarcated only by different coloured stakes at the end of the rows. But because no official château existed here when Bordeaux properties were classified back in 1855, Tour du Roch-Milon missed out on becoming a classed growth like its neighbours. That quirk of fate means it’s something of a fine wine lover’s secret bargain. This 1969 is a real piece of vinous history, recorked for ease of opening, so all you need to do is stand the bottle upright for a day so the sediment drops, then decant carefully. Reserve for a special occasion or a fine Sunday lunch.