Château Boutisse, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2020

There's the richness, roundness and elegance of classic Saint-Émilion here, but with a bit more backbone than many. That's because although Merlot leads, as you'd expect, there's a touch more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend than you usually find on the Right Bank. It shows in the structure - there's plenty of depth and grip to match the ripe red fruits. Cloves and dry spice lift the aromatics, whilst velvety tannins sit silkily on the tongue and carry through to a satisfyingly lengthy finish. Top-level Grand Cru at a pretty decent price.

Just about ready to drink, but this vintage has plenty of longevity so can easily be put away for a few years. Red meats, game and hard cheeses are good accompaniments.

Château Boutisse was purchased in 1996 by winemaker Xavier Milhade and is continues to be run by his family. Tucked away in the commune of Saint Christophe des Bardes, one of the best spots in the appellation, it’s got 25 hectares of vines, making it quite large by St Emilion standards. Since the Milhades took over, they’ve poured significant investment into the vineyards and winery, turning it into one of St Emilion’s most reliable estates.