2020 Chateau Massereau Bordeaux Superieur, Bordeaux

Located in Barsac, about thirty kilometres southeast of Bordeaux, Château Massereau dominates the landscape with its three towers and the rows of vines that descend to Ciron. The estate was acquired in 2000 by the Chaigneau family, and extends over 19 hectares of which only 10 hectares are planted for production. The vineyard has never seen the intensified industrialised production that has hit the rest of the appellation.The Family have decided to farm the vineyard as naturally as possible and there are no chemicals or additives used in the wines.

The Bordeaux Supérieur appellation, counterintuitively, is not always superior, but this one is superb. It’s naturally made, old-school Bordeaux, 60 percent Merlot and 30 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, with the rest split between Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It’s sturdy rather than soft, with pronounced leafy, herbal flavours that give it a pure, savoury, lip-smacking character.