Chateau Les Rochers Réserve Spéciale 2018

Barrel-aged Bordeaux with a lush, velvety streak

Château Les Rochers isn’t pretending to be a classed growth, but the property's Réserve Espéciale has fabulous concentration and structure. These give you the luxury of drinking it now or cellaring. Quality was so good in 2018, in fact, the winemaker decided it needed 18 months in fine French oak. It’s from an estate that's been owned by the Roux family for five generations. The name Les Rochers, ‘the rocks’, comes from the limestone-rich soil, which keeps the vines very well drained. As you’d expect in the Entre Deux Mers, the grapes are Merlot, with both Cabernets playing second fiddle. Dense plum and cedar layered with oak, this is an accessible Bordeaux red, but will benefit from decanting. Serve with roast meats or a warming casserole.