Château Tour Saint Bonnet

Up in the Médoc appellation the famous gravels of the peninsula give way to clay and even limestone, all ultimately yielding to the sandy soils of the farthest northern reaches, and the blends lean towards greater percentages of Merlot and less Cabernet Sauvignon. Nevertheless the wines still have enough left-bank style to push a Bordeaux-drinker’s buttons. A handful of names regularly provided good-value and enjoyable drinking; one among this group, along with the likes of Château Verdignan, Château Patache d’Aux and Château Potensac, was Château Tour Saint Bonnet. An estate with historic origins, it turns out wines that appeal to fans of a more robust, tannin-gripped style.