2023 Chateau Poyanne Cote de Bourg

The Albert Schweitzer family knew exactly what they were taking on when they bought this historic Gauriac estate back in 1962. Rather than coasting on its old 1855 Cru Bourgeois classification, they ripped everything up and completely replanted the vines to push the limits of what a more accessible Bordeaux could be.

The fruit for this release is pulled from hillsides loaded with limestone and coated in a thick layer of silt across the Côtes-de-Bourg appellation. They farm the whole site under strict High Environmental Value sustainable guidelines, making sure the dirt does most of the heavy lifting.

You don't often see this kind of patience in this price bracket. This Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend spends anywhere from 12 to 24 months resting in vats, with a portion seeing time in French oak barrels to build out the texture before being bottled right at the chateau.

It drinks with plenty of weight and drive, delivering plush, dark fruit in a classic BDX frame. There's real power here, but it manages to stay incredibly light on its feet. Terrific value for money.