Haut de Bel Air 2018

“Unquestionably an extraordinary vintage,” says Vinous.com of Bordeaux’s 2018.

The best part of this already-legendary year? The near-perfect, extra-long harvest season allowed the fruit to ripen and develop riper, more complex flavor – and not just at the top châteaux, but at small, family-owned estates across the region.

Enter, Haut de Belair.

Sourced from prime-sited vineyards – growing Merlot and more – nestled in the Entre-deux-Mers, this wine was hand-picked for our customers by our expert on the ground, Jean-Marc Sauboua. It had been set aside as a “friends only” wine – meaning not for sale to outsiders. But there was something about the wine’s intriguing perfume of plums, violets and black currant berries that Jean-Marc found irresistible. (Judges too. On a lark, the estate entered it into the Challenge International du Vin – and won a gold medal.)

So, Jean-Marc did what he does best, and finagled an outstanding deal with the estate, putting this beauty on your table at a remarkable price.

This is a wine we recommend you uncork with a meal – from a simple, weeknight casserole of dark meat chicken and veggies, on up to slow-roasted leg of lamb or boeuf bourguignon. Cheers!