Château Haut-Lagrange, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, 2014

In Léognan, this estate is located directly opposite from Haut-Bailly, and is owned by Ghislain Boutemy, who created it from scratch in 1989. His family owned both Haut Bailly and Larrivet Haut Brion at various points over the centuries, but he got his own experience working in properties in St-Emilion such as Côte Beleau. Blend is 45% Merlot, 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% new oak. Delicately structured, fragrant and savoury. Well integrated tannins and a fresh structure, good medium term drinking.

This is rather lovely - soft, open, just starting to show a few tertiary flavours but still with juice running through it alongside flavours of liquorice, cut herbs and soft smoke. Pessac did well in 2014 and it shows here. This is good stuff and easy to drink. Old school no doubt, but with real charm - a good food wine.