This is old-school Bordeaux with balance, elegance and a whole lot of savoury fruit character. It’s got a deep, dark ruby colour. Take a whiff, and you’ll find yourself irresistibly drawn toward a complex nose of blackcurrant, jammy fruits, soft spice and subtle vanilla. The palate is all balance and finesse, with soft tannins and a deceptively delicate finish. You can drink this now, though if you’ve got the self-control, you can lay it down with confidence for another couple of years. Pick it up again, and you’ll find the colour has lightened a little, and you’ll be greeted by a complex set of new aromas and flavours reminiscent of leather, undergrowth and tobacco.

YEAR

2012

GRAPE

• 58% Cabernet Sauvignon
• 35% Merlot
• 5% Petit Verdot
• 2% Cabernet Franc

WHAT IT GOES WITH

Dine like a true Bordelais by pairing this with a juicy steak, some hand-cut fries and a red wine sauce.

VINEYARD

Château Lamothe-Cissac has been in the Fabre family since 1964 when Gabriel Fabre bought it and set out to restore the vineyards and winery. Today, the 33-hectare property is in the capable hands of his son, Vincent Fabre. The vineyard lies in the Cissac commune, a stone’s throw from some of Bordeaux’s most famous vineyards, with Pauillac due east and Saint-Estèphe to the north. The vineyard lies on a typical gravel subsoil covered in places with clay-limestone and elsewhere in clay and gravel – in short, the perfect terroir for classic, Cabernet Sauvignon-led Bordeaux.