Chateau Grand Peyrou Grand Cru Saint Emilion Bordeaux

A traditional St Emilion produced from predominantly Merlot grapes. The wine is full-bodied, with ripe dark plum and blackcurrant flavours, with hints of cinnamon and tobacco. A classic.

Tasting note : Ripe dark fruits on the nose, with hints of oak. On the palate the wine is supple and textured, with plum and blackcurrant fruit, spicy notes of cedarwood and has a long, mellow finish.

Food pairing : Traditional roast red meats; chicken casserole; plain grilled steak; roasted vegetable stews; hard cheeses.

More info : To qualify as 'Grand Cru', a Saint Emilion must pass a tasting panel test to make sure it is worthy of the description. Not to be confused with 'Premier Grand Cru Classé' and 'Grand Cru Classé', however, which are the really high end stuff! This wine is produced from 80% Merlot grapes grown on the chalky-clay soil around the village of Saint-Etienne-de-Lisse. The vines on this small, 2-hectare plot are an average of 40 years old, which brings a real intensity and maturity to the wine. Ageing for a minimum of 18 months in French oak barrels allows the wine to mature before being bottled and adds elements of toastiness and spice to the flavours.

Winery : Chateau Grand Peyrou is a small estate of only 20 hectares which has been owned and managed by the Laguillon family for three generations. The current father and son work closely together as a team to maintain the high quality and consistency of their wines, both in the vineyards and the cellar. It's a real family affair! They make several cuvées from their different vineyard plots, which straddle St Emilion and Cotes de Castillon.