Château Pierbone, Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France 2014

Second wines can occasionally be rather hit and miss, especially at 11 years of age, but this bottle by the Duboscq family from the highly regarded Château Peyrabon delivers more than you might expect. A Cabernet-Merlot blend, it offers notes of blackcurrant, cedar, graphite and a touch of leather, along with grippy tannins. Enjoyed recently with a roast rib of beef, it’s still delightfully fresh and holding beautifully. All in all, a great-value claret.