On the rise and rise, Chateau Troplong-Mondot is increasingly considered a peer amongst the 1er Grand Cru Classe producers and perseveres with its lavish, luscious, strking wine styles. The wine is produced by Christine Valette in collusion with famed winemaking consultant Michel Rolland, who has been working with the estate since the 1980s, explaining some of the density and power now found in the wine. This 2010 iteration is 90% Merlot and finishes with a balance of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernt Franc. Consider the wine full-flavoured, dense and rich, but with a grace that belies its 15% alcohol

Château La Mission Haut-Brion is an estate in the Pessac-Léognan appellation in the northern Graves, a few miles southwest of Bordeaux's city center. Its near-neighbor and sister estate Château Haut-Brion was the only estate from the region featured in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, but La Mission Haut-Brion (rated a Graves Grand Cru in the 1959 rankings) is often judged and priced as the equal of Haut-Brion and the other first growths.

Things were really getting into their stride at this point at La Gaffelière, with a clear step forward in terms of precision, balance and power. The replanted Cabernet Franc had now entered its second decade, starting to express undercurrents of black pepper spice, liquorice and gentle floral aromatics, adding acidity and power without overdoing anything. It's a great wine, with the generosity and impact of a St-Emilion Premier Cru Classé, building in complexity slowly over the palate. This will deliver for many decades. Jane Anson Decanter 94 Points

This 25-hectare Premier Grand Cru Classe estate, perched on the highest plateau of St Émilion, is one of the jewels of the right bank. Made with the assistance of Michel Rolland, this opulent and generously proportioned Bordeaux, with dark plum praline flavours and chocolatey tannins, is one of the top wines of this vintage.

This is a complex blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc finished with Carmenere and Petit Verdot - flavours and perfume are thus layered, intense, detailed and glorious. A cavalcade of fruit, spice, earth, savouriness and beautiful wood handling. The estate is managed by Patrick Leon, whose talents are writ large in the finesse of handling the complex array of fruit, and judicious use of winemaking technique to elicit this most elegant yet finely wrought style. It's relative approachability is another key to this wines excellence.

A stones throw from the famed Chateau Beychevelle, the estate is set in the south of the St Julien appellation and notable for vitality, finesse and elegance. The wine here is produced by Patrick Maroteaux whose increasingly influence is in turn elevating the quality and reputation of these wines.