Château Blaignan Cru Bourgeois 2013

American wine guru Robert Parker declared that Cru Bourgeois “represents outstanding value and quality” . Unlike the Classed Growth classification, Cru Bourgeois status has to be earned every year at a blind tasting of the wines. So there’s no resting on the proverbial laurels. For this admittedly tricky vintage (August hail tore a swathe through the vineyards and some lost their entire harvest), the property brought in the renowned winemaker of Château Angélus, Hubert de Bouärd, to supervise. The result is a succulent, pretty claret with blueberry and cassis flavours, firm tannins, spicy oak and structure. It’s not for laying down, but for enjoying over the next five-plus years. Open early and enjoy with roasted meats or farmhouse cheeses.