Deep ruby with a touch of garnet at the rim, this is Saint-Émilion at its most inviting, plush, fragrant, and beautifully composed. The nose opens with layers of ripe black cherry, blackberry and bramble, laced with hints of forest floor, cedar and a whisper of spice. On the palate, it’s supple and generous, the 70% Merlot bringing soft, velvety fruit, while Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon lend structure, freshness and earthy depth. The finish is long, elegant and quietly assured - a classic claret in every sense.

For when: dinner’s slow, the lights are low, and conversation lingers.
Pairs with: roast lamb, duck à l’orange, or beef and mushroom pie.
If this wine were a fabric, it’d be velvet with a fine Bordeaux weave.

Château Grand Pey Lescours lies on the limestone-clay slopes just southeast of Saint-Émilion, a terroir famed for producing wines of both power and finesse. The vines, averaging 35 years of age, are sustainably farmed and harvested parcel by parcel to ensure perfect ripeness. The 2011 vintage, often overshadowed by its flashier neighbours, has matured beautifully, now showing harmony, texture, and the quiet charm of a wine hitting its stride.

Drink: Now – 2030