Bordeaux

Reds:
Recent vintages in Bordeaux offer a range of contrasting styles, from the lighter, fresher 2011s, the density, freshness and purity of the 2010 wines and the sweet fruit and early charm of the 2009s. Standards have never been higher, nor more consistent, so that there are reliably good buys from the most modest petits châteaux to the grandest of crus classés.

2006 felt like a lean year early on but the good wines have filled out, with some delicious bottles already ready for drinking. 2007s, in contrast, are full of early-drinking charm, and the more classic 2008s listed here are also delicious now.

The Society and Exhibition Ranges offer a variety of claret styles, from the easy-drinking Society’s Claret, made for us for the last 20 years by Maison Sichel, to the classically proportioned Exhibition Haut-Médoc from members' favourite Château Beaumont. The wines are highlighted in coloured boxes in their relevant vintage sections.

Whites:
2011 was an excellent vintage for the dry whites in Bordeaux and we have expanded our range accordingly with wines that are now ready for drinking. If you are unfamiliar with today's fine white Bordeaux then this is the vintage in which to discover them. Dourthe's has been a benchmark for years and is made with the advice of Denis Dubourdieu and his team.

For more Sauternes and other sweet wines, in quantities too small to be listed here, please visit thewinesociety.com/sweetwines

Joanna Locke MW