Château Pavillon Beauregard, Le Chapelain 2014

"Ripe raspberry, black cherry and dark plum roll out of the glass, neatly tailored with a touch of spice and polished oak. On the palate it’s smooth, composed and quietly luxurious, with silky Merlot tannins and a velvety depth that only comes from time well spent in bottle. After more than a decade of ageing, everything feels perfectly in place. The finish lingers like the last guest who knows exactly when to stay, all dark fruit, warmth and understated charm." Our note Pavillon Beauregard is made by the Cathiard family, the force behind Château Smith Haut Lafitte, one of Bordeaux’s great modern estates, so the quality comes as no surprise once you know the lineage. Plush, polished, and beautifully resolved, it has that effortless confidence that only comes from serious pedigree and a decade of patient ageing. We poured it at our Christmas Market, where it went head-to-head with some frankly intimidating bottles and still managed to steal the show. More than one person quietly declared it the wine of the night. Fully mature and drinking right in the sweet spot, this 'baby Pomerol' delivers waves of dark berry and raspberry fruit, subtle spice, gentle oak and silky, ripe tannins that glide rather than shout. It’s exactly the sort of sumptuous Claret you want on the table over the festive days.