Pessac-Leognan: Chateau Latour-Martillac

Situated in the beautiful South-West of France, Bordeaux is one of the country's largest wine-growing areas, covering over 125,000 hectares. With the Atlantic to the west, its coastal temperatures are moderated by the Gulf Stream, making it an ideal place for vines to thrive. The region produces a staggering 900 million bottles a year, ranging from large quantities of common Vin de Pays to some of the most prestigious and expensive wines in the world.

A prestigious appellation in the northern Graves district of Bordeaux, on the left bank just south of the city, created in 1987 to recognise the area's finest terroir. Distinguished by its deep gravel soils, it is unusual in Bordeaux for being equally renowned for its reds and whites. The reds are built chiefly on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, giving structured, elegant wines with blackcurrant, cedar, and a characteristic smoky, mineral note, while the barrel-aged dry whites - from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon - rank among the very best in France.