1 Bottle of Château Pas de l’Ane 2003, St Emilion Grand Cru

1 Bottle of Château Branda 2004, Puisseguin St Emilion

1 Bottle of Château Tour des Agasseaux 2003, Lussac St Emilion

The 2003 vintage was certainly one that hit the headlines. This was Europe's heatwave year, characterised by an oven-hot August and one of the earliest harvests on record. Ideally sunny warm weather in September with some welcome light rain provided perfect conditions for picking. Therefore the grapes arrived in a remarkably healthy state and the first juice is deep-coloured and opulent.

Saint-Emilion is one of the most beautiful wine-producing villages in France. Famous wines are produced in this distinguished world heritage site where Merlot achieves its maximum quality.

The medieval village of Saint-Emilion was accepted by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site both for its historical value and its importance as an exceptional wine-growing terroir. The wines from this AOC are generous, warm, full-bodied and intensely crimson-coloured. Their strawberry and red-current nose, is followed up by notes of soft spices, vanilla, leather and smoke that develop with age. In the mouth, they have solid but velvety tannins, which give these wines a flavourful and fleshy body. The only thing that can match the refinement of the tannins is their strength, which is witness to their potential for longevity.

With a maximum yield limited to 40 hL/ha, the AOC Saint-Emilion Grand Cru produces some of the highest quality wines in Bordeaux. This low yield forces winegrowers to limit the vine's load so that the grapes produce high concentrations of colour, tannic and aromatic elements. As well, they must submit their wines to a second formal wine tasting, after 12 months of aging. The Saint-Emilion Grands Crus elevates the quality of Saint-Emilion to near perfection.

Created in 1936, the Lussac-Saint-Emilion AOC is home to numerous historical monuments. However, its modern red wines, that are generous, powerful and complex, yet always elegant, are making headlines these days.

Puisseguin-Saint-Emilion : Located very close to Saint-Emilion, this AOC is distinguished by its elevation and its little-known wines with great character. Here Merlots produce mature wines with a fleshy and full texture. They are pleasing in the mouth, due to their fleshy and full texture that is never heavy. Delicately enveloped tannins are present and ensure a good potential for longevity.