Château Malbat
We hadn't come across this great little estate until a sample bottle of their 2009 vintage arrived at our cellars. We were soon won over and are now converts to their delicious claret.
The Château is in the southern reaches of the Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux, where Merlot is the dominant grape variety for red wines. It is one of many smaller Château in the area, but unlike many they make and bottle their wines at their own winery, ensuring that the wines have individuality and personality.
Now in the fifth generation of family ownership, the estate seems to be producing excellent value claret year in year out.