2014 Chateau de France Pessac-Leognan Bordeaux 750 ml

It’s amazing that a wine named “Château de France'' can fly under the radar—yet finding this wine in the US is nearly impossible.

It’s worth the search, though, because their 2014 is a star—an incredible standout value in the often-expensive appellation of Pessac-Léognan, where $600+ First Growth Haut-Brion sets the bar. In addition, Wine Enthusiast awarded Château de France 95 points—the same score as their Cru Classé neighbor, Château Haut-Bailly, but with a much lower price tag. 

The wine is beautifully aromatic, showing scents of classic plum and cassis mingling with the cedar and gravel that typifies the region. The palate is precisely delineated, with the elegant tannins and supple fruit that we adore from the appellation. A long finish ends with a bit of tannin, suggesting the wine has several years ahead of it—if you can resist drinking it now.

Château de France benefits from the expertise of legendary Bordeaux winemaker Michel Rolland, who’s helped the estate refine their craft since the mid-90s. Rolland is known for shepherding estates like Harlan, Angélus, and Pavie to international glory, and he has elevated Château de France to heights their founders could hardly have imagined.

The estate boasts Pessac-Léognan’s unique mixture of limestone, gravel, and clay—perfect soils for growing both Cabernet Sauvignon, which contributes dark fruit and gravelly flavors, and Merlot, which helps the tannins remain silky. That’s unusual for Bordeaux, and makes for a wine that’s impossible to replicate anywhere else.

After a full year in 40% new French oak, and now nearly seven years in the cellar, this wine is a hidden prize. A rarity here in the US, we recommend you stock up while you can.