Clarets For Drinking now Case

Affordable Haut Médoc from the Bourotte family who own Clos du Clocher in Pomerol and produced using grapes from a few top properties on the left bank. A 50/50 blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot this has a lot of structure for the price, with impressive cassis notes, a touch of menthol, grippy tannins and good length.

Unoaked any-day red from a family-owned property producing good, honest well-priced claret, perfect with steak frites. Fermented in stainless-steel tanks and matured in concrete vats to preserve the fruit freshness this is a blend of 55% merlot and 45% cabernets sauvignon and franc.

Great-value merlot-based blend from a popular château in the elegant 2023 vintage. Sweet red-fruit character from the merlot is complemented by great fragrance and fine, food-friendly tannins thanks to the inclusion of cabernet franc.

The follow-on vintage to the hugely popular 2022, this is slightly lighter and more fruit-forward as is the style with 2023 but no less appealing. Plum, strawberry and dark cherry on the nose with a lightly structured, juicy palate with plenty of charm. A great-value, anyday claret that's also available in bag in box.

This friendly and fresh-tasting claret is one of The Wine Society`s most consistently popular wines. Supplied for over a quarter of a century by family-owned Maison Sichel, the bespoke blend varies from vintage to vintage, but merlot takes the lead role, and the wine is made without any oak to avoid masking its bright, red and black-fruit flavours. This is made to be drunk young, on its own or with a wide variety of dishes. The label for this perennial favourite shows three muses that can also be seen on the Grand Theatre opera house in Bordeaux itself.

Fruity and easy-drinking unoaked claret with a fine texture and charm. From a property that produces outstanding value wines with true Bordeaux character this is merlot-dominant and brimming with bramble and plum notes.