An upswing in quality over the past decade or so, has resurrected Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte's position amongst Bordeaux Chateau. New ownership breathed life into exceptionally positioned vineyards, now farmed with less chemicals, with a more sympatico approach in winery. Famed winemaking consultant Michel Rolland is an additional feather in Smith-Haut-Lafitte's cap, enhancing the wines concentration, power and depth, while maintaining a finesse. Though full-bodied, the wine from 2010 will be approachable a little earlier than most other fine Bordeaux, with more moderate tannin - that being said, it's life will stretch several decades too.

Château Léoville-Las-Cases is classified as a 2nd Growth, but can rightfully claim to produce wines equal and superior to some 1st growths. Léoville's label (Grand Vin de Léoville du Marquis de Las Cases) doesn't mention the

At the very top of the Appellation. Black fruits with spicy ink notes on the nose The palate- the tannins are very powerful but also mellow, smokey notes pepper, highlights wonderfully the Syrah variety on granite soils.

Château Léoville-Barton is one of the oldest Château's in Saint Julien with the Barton family still owning the estate some 175+ years since they took stewardship of the property. Always a finely perfumed wine is produced with rich and powerful tannin that gives way to beautiful fruit and richness of flavour with aging. This is especially the case when speaking of the remarkable 2009 vintage which is being classified as one of the very best of the past 100 years. Take advantage of such a vintage with wines like Léoville's that won't break the Bordeaux bank.

Château Trotanoy is one of the oldest and prestigous of any Châteaux on the Bordeaux's right-bank. Trotanoy consists of a tiny 7.5 hectare plot in Pomerol where Merlot is the dominant variety planted. In 2008, Pomerol was the best perfoming of all of the Bordeaux regions and was rated a brilliant 96 by Robert Parker Jr. Wonderfully complex and rich in fruit, this Trotanoy also has a brilliant structure and elegance that will medium-term cellar quite nicely.

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste produce some of the best value wines in the Pauillac region, if not simply some of the best quality in general. Cabernet based reds are their staple and generally produce wines of a robust and masculine nature. In recent years the wines are close to rivalling the famed Pichons .