Medoc: Chateau Villa Carmin

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.

One of Bordeaux's most famous appellations, extending some 50km north-west along the left bank of the Gironde from the city of Bordeaux towards the estuary. Its gravel and clay-rich soils, spread across over 5,700 hectares, are well suited to red grapes, and the appellation produces red wine almost exclusively - no white wine qualifies for the Médoc name. The wines are built on a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with a little Cabernet Franc, giving approachable, flavoursome reds with classic blackcurrant and cedar character. Structured yet accessible, they are typically enjoyable earlier than the grander wines of the Haut-Médoc to the south.