<p>Ch&acirc;teau Cantin of St-&Eacute;milion may not be a household name of Bordeaux, but it is a time-honoured estate whose soil has been tilled for vines since the Middle Ages. The history of its origin story and life into the modern era may be murky, but it is rich in romance. And the quality of the wine produced in Ch&acirc;teau Cantin&rsquo;s prime St-&Eacute;milion vineyards is crystal clear.</p>

Château Guiraud is a large Sauternes property that is the only 1er Cru Classé, with the exception of its illustrious neighbour Château d`Yquem, that is located within the commune of Sauternes itself. Guiraud's 85 hectares of vineyards are located on one of the hills above the village of Sauternes. They are planted with 65% Sémillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes are harvested in "tries" and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is then aged in oak casks (50% new) for 2 years. Guiraud is a very ambitious property with aspirations to produce a wine that will one day rival d`Yquem. The wines are astonishingly rich, especially in light of the high proportion of Sauvignon Blanc in the blend, and are undoubtedly amongst the finest wines being produced in Sauternes today.