Recommended by the ever reliable wine merchant Doug Salthouse, proprietor of Smart Buy Wines in New Jersey, this Saint Emilion Grand Cru is a tour-de-force combination of all that was, is and what can be exciting about Bordeaux. Rich and smooth without a hint of over-extraction, this wine blends modern knowledge with classic Bordeaux character. I’m ordering a case of this under $30 bargain.

” Located just 3 kilometers from Saint Emilion, Chateau Pipeau is a perfectly situated vineyard with great exposition (sun exposure). The vineyard has been in the Mestreguilhem family since 1929, thus there is now three generations of experience that has sought to constantly improve this wine. This blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc come from vineyards situated on soils composed of gravel, sand and clay. Fermentation is carried out at low temperatures over a period of 4 – 5 weeks. Following fermentation, the wine is matured in oak casks, one third of which are new.” - from the Smart Buy Wines newsletter