Château Puygueraud 2018

On the Right Bank, north east of Côtes de Castillon, the Côtes de Francs is Bordeaux's smallest appellation. In 1967, it was offered inclusion within the Castillon appellation, but preferred to go its own way. Perhaps that and its size would explain why its wines remain little known. Even so, the region has attracted some big names – Hubert de Bouärd of Château Angélus at Château de Francs and, of course, the renowned Thienpont family, owners of Puygueraud since 1946. Today the estate boasts 42 hectares of red grapes, mainly Merlot, and unusually five of Sauvignon Blanc and Gris. This supple, rich, ageworthy claret was aged in a third new oak barrels for over a year to lend layers of complexity to the fruit. For now, open early and decant.