Handpicked wine case
Remarkable Bordeaux Blends Wine Case
Curated for lovers of Cabernet- and Merlot-led reds, this case explores how the Bordeaux blending tradition takes on a different character around the world. Travel from Pomerol to Bolgheri, Margaret River, Mendoza, Napa Valley and Hawkes Bay, comparing generous fruit, savoury complexity, silky textures and fine tannins with confidence.
Price range: £235.50 through £470.99
Bordeaux varieties with a world of character
Follow the blend from Pomerol to Hawkes Bay
This collection is for anyone who enjoys the structure and depth of Bordeaux varieties and would like to see where those grapes can travel. Château des Jacobins provides the classic reference point: a smooth, measured Pomerol built around Merlot and Cabernet Franc. In Tuscany, Poggio al Tesoro brings red berries, cassis and silky tannins to its Bolgheri blend, while McHenry Hohnen gives Malbec the leading role in a powerful yet polished Margaret River expression. Kaiken’s Disobedience draws vibrant fruit, graphite and fine-grained texture from high-altitude Argentinian vineyards, and Pine Ridge turns fruit from across Napa Valley into a rich, complex Cabernet-led red. Trinity Hill completes the journey with a supple, perfumed Hawkes Bay blend whose cherry, plum, violet and blackberry flavours make it especially inviting. Together, the wines offer a rewarding way to compare place, grape balance and texture while providing plenty of choice for the dinner table.
The Wines
Hazel's Vineyard Reserve BDX
McHenry Hohnen, Margaret River, Australia
Tasting note
Red cherry, cocoa bean, blueberry and wild lavender make an inviting first impression, followed by ripe boysenberry and blackcurrant. Powerful fruit is wrapped in silky tannins, with subtle oak and floral notes bringing polish and savoury detail.
Pair with
Its generous fruit would come into its own with grilled red meat or game, followed by a mature cheese.
Il Seggio Bolgheri
Poggio al Tesoro, Tuscany, Italy
Tasting note
Red berries and cassis rise from the glass alongside mineral and spicy notes. Medium-bodied and poised, it carries elegant, silky tannins into a lively finish that makes this Tuscan blend a pleasure to linger over.
Pair with
A lovely bottle for a leisurely dinner of roast lamb, grilled meat or pasta, with mature cheese to follow.
Disobedience by Francis Mallmann
Kaiken, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
Tasting note
Vibrant red fruit is threaded with graphite and sweet spice, giving the wine both richness and definition. Full-bodied yet finely textured, it has fine-grained tannins and a persistent finish with plenty of character.
Pair with
Bring it to the table with grilled red meat or game, or enjoy its depth alongside a well-chosen cheese.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Pine Ridge, Napa Valley, California, USA
Tasting note
Dark chocolate, blackberry, spiced plum and a cool hint of spearmint create an enticing nose. Rich, opulent fruit and spice fill the palate, held in shape by firm, grainy tannins for a bold and satisfying glass.
Pair with
This has the depth for a special dinner of grilled steak, roast lamb or game, and will sit happily beside mature cheese.
The Trinity
Trinity Hill, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Tasting note
Cherry and plum bring juicy warmth, while violet perfume and blackberry add lift and definition. Supple, balanced and full of flavour, it combines serious character with an easy, inviting drinkability.
Pair with
Its balance makes it a wonderfully flexible choice for roast meat, pasta or a relaxed cheeseboard, and it is equally enjoyable on its own.
Château des Jacobins Pomerol
Château des Jacobins, Bordeaux, Pomerol, France
Tasting note
Generous dark berry fruit sits at the heart of this classically styled Pomerol, balanced by natural freshness and subtle structure. Smooth and composed, it carries fine tannins and a rounded texture into a steady, persistent finish.
Pair with
Pour it with roast meat or a richer supper when you want a polished red that can also be enjoyed slowly on its own.
Why lovers of Bordeaux blends will enjoy the journey
The pleasure here lies in seeing familiar grapes take on the accent of their surroundings. Château des Jacobins offers the rounded dark fruit and fine tannins of Pomerol, while Il Seggio translates the same blending tradition into a silky, mineral-edged Bolgheri red. Further afield, McHenry Hohnen puts biodynamically grown Margaret River Malbec at the centre of Hazel's Vineyard Reserve BDX, and Kaiken uses high-altitude Argentinian vineyards to bring vibrant fruit and fine-grained texture to Disobedience.
- Hazel's Vineyard Reserve BDX gives the tasting an intriguing twist by placing Malbec ahead of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, bringing ripe boysenberry and blackcurrant together with silky tannins and savoury detail.
- Pine Ridge draws Cabernet fruit from several Napa Valley sites and shapes it with French oak, creating a rich, complex contrast of dark chocolate, blackberry, spice and firm structure.
- The Trinity shows the more supple, aromatic side of the blend in Hawkes Bay, where Merlot's cherry and plum meet Cabernet Franc's violet perfume and blackberry character.
I love how these wines share a family resemblance yet speak so clearly of their origins, from composed Pomerol and silky Bolgheri to generous Margaret River, vivid Mendoza and fragrant Hawkes Bay.
Becky