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From biodynamic first growths to Right Bank legends. 20 estates redefining Bordeaux today.

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The Bordeaux wine lovers return to is not about power or prestige, but about sites that reward time, restraint and attention. Whether you're exploring 

 for the first time or revisiting Bordeaux with fresh eyes, these estates demonstrate that when appellation takes a back seat, terroir finally speaks.

Merlot-led, limestone and clay, texture before tannin.

Saint-Émilion | Saint-Émilion Grand Cru | Premier Grand Cru Classé B | Certified Organic

Château Belair-Monange occupies the highest point of Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau, a site cultivated since Roman times and ranked by Cocks & Féret in 1850 as the leading wine of the appellation. The Moueix family acquired the estate in 2008, renaming it to honour Jean-Pierre Moueix's mother, Anne-Adèle Monange, the first Moueix woman to settle in Saint-Émilion.

The 23.5-hectare vineyard divides between asteriated limestone on the plateau and dense blue clay on the south-facing slopes. Plantings run 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, with the merger of neighbouring Château Magdelaine in 2012 bringing additional complexity. Organic certification reflects a philosophy of minimal intervention: indigenous fermentations, élevage split between barrels and concrete, and 50% new oak for 16-18 months.

The grand vin shows Saint-Émilion at its most classical: tension, lift and a chalky, architectural finish rather than overt density. 

, the second wine introduced in 2014, combines minerality and concentration with earlier accessibility. 

, the estate's third wine, offers a vibrant, fruit-driven expression for drinking within a few years.

Saint-Émilion | Saint-Émilion Grand Cru | Premier Grand Cru Classé B

Château Canon sits on prime limestone slopes in view of Saint-Émilion village, its history stretching to 1760 when privateer Jacques Kanon purchased the domain. Since 1996, the Wertheimer family (owners of Chanel) have transformed the estate through meticulous vineyard restructuring and cellar modernisation, making Canon what critics now call a "reawakened sleeping giant."

The 34-hectare vineyard plants 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc on clay-limestone soils, with vines averaging 30 years and some blocks dating to the 1940s. Winemaker Nicolas Audebert (formerly of Cheval des Andes) oversees parcel-by-parcel vinification in the gravity-flow cellar, with 18 months ageing in 70% new French oak. The estate has earned consistent 97+ scores since 2014, with the 2015 and 2016 both achieving 100 points.

Canon delivers clarity-driven Saint-Émilion where limestone, not extraction, defines expression. Merlot provides texture, Cabernet Franc the aromatic architecture. 

, produced from dedicated plots around the restored 12th-century Chapelle de Mazerat, offers an earlier-drinking lens on the estate's style, often with higher Cabernet Franc in the blend.

Saint-Émilion | Saint-Émilion Grand Cru | Certified Biodynamic

Domaine de Galouchey represents a radically different Saint-Émilion approach: tiny-scale, biodynamic and minimal intervention in one of Bordeaux's most orthodox appellations. This is natural wine territory within the walls of tradition.

Indigenous fermentations, no new oak and very low sulphur yield wines of striking individuality. It serves as a reminder that Merlot and Cabernet Franc can express delicacy and tension when handled without cosmetic winemaking, offering an alternative perspective on what Saint-Émilion can be.

Petrus needs little introduction. This 11.5-hectare estate on Pomerol's plateau produces one of the world's most coveted wines from a geological anomaly: a "buttonhole" of 40-million-year-old blue clay (smectite) found nowhere else in Bordeaux. The dense, moisture-retentive soil creates ideal stress conditions for Merlot, which has comprised 100% of plantings since 2010.

The Moueix family connection began in the 1940s when Jean-Pierre Moueix partnered with the visionary Madame Loubat; full ownership followed in 1969. Today, fourth-generation winemaker Olivier Berrouet continues his father Jean-Claude's 44-vintage legacy. Winemaking remains traditional: hand-harvesting over 5-6 days, fermentation in concrete, ageing in 50% new oak for 18 months. Green harvesting may eliminate up to 50% of the crop, resulting in yields among the lowest in Bordeaux.

Petrus produces only one wine: approximately 2,500 cases annually of profound concentration, silky texture and extraordinary ageing potential. The style combines depth and sensuality with vintage-specific character rather than manufactured consistency. Each release expresses this singular terroir rather than conforming to a house formula.

Château Lafleur stands at the intellectual end of Pomerol. This 4.5-hectare estate, just 200 metres from Petrus, produces wines where Cabernet Franc plays a defining role unusual for the appellation: plantings run roughly 50/50 between Merlot and what the Guinaudeau family call "Bouchet" (the traditional local name for Cabernet Franc).

Founded in 1872 by Henri Greloud, the estate remained in family hands through various branches until Jacques and Sylvie Guinaudeau took full control in 2002. Their approach echoes Burgundy more than Bordeaux: the 4.5-hectare vineyard divides into 24 parcels across four distinct soil types (gravel, sandy gravel, clay, and sand), each vinified separately. Vine density reaches 8,000 per hectare; soils are raked rather than turned. Ageing uses only 50% new oak to preserve rather than impose.

In 2025, the Guinaudeaus announced Lafleur would leave the Pomerol appellation entirely, producing all wines under Vin de France designation to gain flexibility in responding to climate change. The move signals confidence that the Lafleur name transcends any appellation's marketing value.

The grand vin is dense, firm and uncompromising, demanding time and attention. Dark fruit, truffle, graphite and mineral freshness emerge with age. 

 (renamed from Pensées de Lafleur in 2018) comes from dedicated parcels rather than declassified lots, representing the family's view of "true Pomerol" through its more typical soils and blend. Production: approximately 1,000 cases of the grand vin, 750 cases of Les Pensées.

Cabernet Sauvignon, gravel, structure and ageing.

Margaux | Margaux | Third Growth | Certified Biodynamic

Château Palmer has emerged as one of Bordeaux's most progressive estates, a Third Growth consistently performing at First Growth level. Under director Thomas Duroux (formerly of Ornellaia), the estate completed full biodynamic conversion between 2008 and 2014, gaining certification in 2017 as one of the highest-profile biodynamic vineyards in Bordeaux.

The 66-hectare vineyard plants equal parts Merlot (47%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (47%), with 6% Petit Verdot, on gravel, sand and clay overlooking the Gironde. This unusually high Merlot percentage for the Médoc contributes to Palmer's signature velvety texture. Biodynamic practices include grazing sheep and cattle, nettle and horsetail preparations, and even soundwave machines emitting tones to aid vine development. Infrared cameras determine optimal harvest timing; 54 temperature-controlled vats enable parcel-by-parcel vinification.

Palmer combines Margaux's aromatic finesse with a unique textural quality, gaining clarity rather than rusticity from biodynamics. The estate has achieved three 100-point vintages since 2015. 

, introduced in 1998, comes from dedicated plots rather than functioning as a traditional second wine. With less new oak influence and a distinct freshness, it has developed a cult following in its own right. Production: approximately 12,000 cases of Palmer, 8,000 cases of Alter Ego.

Château Brane-Cantenac is a quiet Margaux benchmark. The 75-hectare estate on deep gravel soils prioritises perfume, fine tannins and balance over scale through restrained extraction and careful élevage.

The wines charm over time rather than dominate tastings, making Brane-Cantenac a favourite among Burgundy-leaning Bordeaux drinkers who value subtlety over statement. Recent vintages show increasing precision while maintaining the estate's hallmark elegance.

Rauzan-Ségla's renaissance began with Chanel's acquisition in 1994 (two years before they bought Canon in Saint-Émilion). Vineyard focus and careful élevage have returned the estate to a style rooted in elegance rather than power, with the same exacting standards the Wertheimer family bring to their fashion house.

The 66-hectare vineyard plants predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc on classic Margaux gravel. Floral, layered and supple, modern Rauzan-Ségla expresses the appellation with confidence and composure, justifying its Second Growth status with wines that reward patience.

Pauillac | Pauillac | Fifth Growth | Certified Biodynamic

Château Pontet-Canet represents biodynamics at Bordeaux's highest level. Under Alfred Tesseron's direction since 1994, this 81-hectare estate became the first classified growth in the Médoc to achieve both organic (Ecocert) and biodynamic (Biodyvin, Demeter) certification, completing full conversion by 2010.

The vineyard occupies prime Pauillac terroir on the gravel plateau running from Lafite through Mouton Rothschild, with core blocks planted in the 1940s and average vine age around 50 years. Plantings run 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Ten horses now work approximately half the vineyard, sleeping in stables made from old wine barrels. Geothermal energy powers the winery. Since 2019, all sorting and destemming occurs entirely by hand in near-silence.

"I am not a winemaker," Tesseron has said. "We are growers. Our success is due to our efforts in the vineyards, not the winemaking."

The wines have gained energy, precision and depth since the biodynamic conversion, proving that sustainable viticulture can elevate even Pauillac's most structured terroirs. Yields rarely exceed 35 hectoliters per hectare. While the mildew-prone 2018 vintage saw devastating losses (10 hl/ha), recent years demonstrate the rewards of commitment. Ageing uses approximately 60% new oak. Though officially a Fifth Growth, Pontet-Canet now commands prices and critical scores competing with the First Growths.

Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a classicist's Pauillac. The 58-hectare vineyard on deep gravel soils produces wines of structure and restraint rather than polish, through careful extraction and measured oak.

Cassis, cedar and graphite dominate the aromatic profile, with firm tannins that soften slowly over decades. This is Pauillac built to age rather than impress early, rewarding patience with complexity that emerges only with time. The estate has remained in the Borie family since 1978, maintaining consistent quality across vintages.

Château Batailley remains resolutely traditional and quietly reliable. The 60-hectare estate produces wines defined by long ageing curves and savoury Cabernet Sauvignon character rather than modern extraction or heavy oak.

Often underestimated, mature bottles deliver balance and depth without excess. Batailley rewards patience rather than fashion, offering serious Pauillac at prices that reflect value rather than speculation. The Castéja family has owned the estate since 1942.

Saint-Estèphe | Saint-Estèphe | Third Growth

Calon-Ségur balances Saint-Estèphe authority with increasing finesse. The estate's distinctive heart-shaped label reflects the affection of 18th-century owner Marquis de Ségur, who reportedly declared, "I make wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is at Calon."

Modern vineyard work under the Suravenir insurance group's ownership since 2012 has softened the edges without losing depth or structure. The 55-hectare vineyard plants primarily Cabernet Sauvignon on clay and gravel. Dark fruit, saline grip and graphite notes define wines that mature beautifully and value poise over brute power.

Saint-Estèphe | Saint-Estèphe | Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel

Château Meyney is one of Bordeaux's great value estates. The 51-hectare vineyard on clay and gravel overlooking the Gironde produces serious, age-worthy wines at accessible prices.