Deep garnet in colour, this 2011 Potensac opens with refined aromas of blackcurrant, plum, cedar and dried herbs, followed by graphite and a hint of cigar box. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied and beautifully balanced with dark berry fruit framed by fine tannins and that signature Médoc freshness. Subtle notes of leather, spice and earth appear with air, leading to a long, savoury finish that hums with quiet authority.

For when: the meal’s slow, the wine’s decanted, and the evening’s got nowhere else to be.
Pairs with: roast lamb, grilled ribeye, or wild mushrooms.
If this wine were a voice, it’d be low, confident and unmistakably Bordeaux.

Château Potensac lies in the northern Médoc and is part of the Delon family’s portfolio, alongside Château Léoville Las Cases and Clos du Marquis. Its vineyards, a mix of gravel, clay and limestone, produce wines that bridge the finesse of Saint-Julien with the structure of Saint-Estèphe. The 2011 vintage, a cooler, classic year, brings precision and drinkability: Cabernet Sauvignon providing backbone, Merlot softening the edges, and Cabernet Franc adding lift and spice.