Best-selling claret: Top Bordeaux wines under £20

Château Greysac, situated in the north of St-Estephe, is a classy Medoc made with 65% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. With intense dark, sweet fruit on the palate, good structure from notable tannins this combines richness with a mineral thread on the finish. Drinking very well now, this will age well for at least another 2-3 years.

Caroline & Xavier Perromat are proprietors at Château Calvimont, situated in Cerons on the right bank of the Gironde, where gravel soils are layered over limestone subsoil. Attractive, intense, raspberry conserve flavours are supported by subtle oak maturation, fine tannins and fresh acidity. A great balance between the ripeness of the 2018 vintage, concentration of flavour, approachability and ageing ability, this Graves finishes with a lingering, floral/mineral flourish.

Produced by Amelie Aubert at Château Abelyce, this 100% Merlot is a stylish Saint-Emilion Grand Cru. There is plenty of power and concentration on the palate with intensity of black cherries and cassis, with a lingering mineral finish. In 2016 there is lovely balance between ripeness and freshness, along with vibrant purity of fruit. A grown-up Right Bank Bordeaux with plenty of ageing potential.

Berry Bros have been buying this wine from the same estate (Château Bel Air) in the Graves since 2002. Managed by the Cazes family, this continues the fine quality exhibited by this 50:50 Merlot:Cabernet Sauvignon blend with a whiff of Graves earthiness interspersed with succulent, ripe red summerfruit. Attractive, well-managed oak adds softness to the palate. A fine advert for the vintage.

Château Argadens was purchased by the Sichel family in 2002. Consistently a fine Bordeaux Superieur this is even better in the classy 2016 vintage. Hand-picked Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon (with 5% of Cabernet Franc) and 14 months maturation. With a floral nose and red-berry fruit balanced by freshness from the darker Cabernets, this fine 2016 delivers great value for money for an estate wine.

From a small 6ha estate in Fronsac, this 100% Merlot is a great example of the high quality:value ratio now being found in cheaper Bordeaux wines. Dark, bramble fruit with a hint of spice, there are some lovely red-cherry and raspberry notes on the palate. Soft, easy to drink, this has ripeness but is not remotely cloying. Great value.

A Majestic customer favourite for many years, Château Meaume represents a lot of Bordeaux Superieur class for not a lot of money. Situated 15km north of Libourne, Meaume is owned by British couple Sandra & Mark Johnson-Hill. The ripeness of 2016 is balanced by fresh acidity and fine tannins. 90% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, this has an intriguing tea-leaf note and hints of lead-pencil.

Produced for Corney & Barrow by leading negociant Sichel, this blend of 65% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Malbec. It shows classical Bordeaux restraint with firm yet fine tannins, and crisp acidity keeping the palate cool and fresh. The structural elements are married with ripe dark-fruit flavours and a touch of smoky oak, with the dash of Malbec adding a little extra blueberry to the more classical elements.

Château de Pitray, a 36ha estate, is situated on a clay-limestone plateau 8km from St-Emilion. A fine example of Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux with velvety ripe, dark fruit on the palate matched with some crisp tannins and just the right amount of acidity. Plushly textured, there is a typical Bordeaux coolness on the palate and concentration to allow ageing for 3-4 years. Drinking very well now.

Owned by the Bénillan family for six generations, the château is situated in the commune of Blaignan, close to the Gironde estuary. A Cru Bourgeois with fine-grained tannins and attractive dark currant fruit provide plenty of interest on the palate with quite a pronounced lick of oak. There is a touch of cinnamon, nutmeg and menthol on the finish. Fresh, lively and with good length - no hurry to drink this.

Loaded with ripe, plump red summer-berry fruit this soft, easy-drinking Côtes de Bordeaux is a blend of mostly Merlot/Cabernet Franc, with a small addition of Sauvignon and Malbec adding extra depth on the palate. The fleshy fruit character is balanced by freshness from limestone, which forms the south facing ridge in this part of the Dordogne Valley. Drink young.