The little-known Tour de Biot is one of the thousands of petits châteaux on whose shoulders rests much of the future reputation of Bordeaux wines. It is Clarets like these that prove that Bordeaux can match any other wine region in the world, even at the more modest price points.

Fourth-generation owner Gilles Gremen has been producing wines at this right-bank property in La Roquille since 1987. As soon as he took over, he immediately set about a programme of investment to upgrade the quality of the wine. Until that time all the grapes had been sold every year to the local co-operative, a common enough practice amongst the thousands of petits chateaux which make up the fabric of Bordeaux.

Choosing the path of making one’s own wine is always a risk as it takes away the safety net of guaranteed purchase by the Co-Op but for a quality-minded proprietor it usually pays dividends. Made from a blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon the wine typically exhibits attractively pure black cherry and plum flavours and surprising length.