Château Martinat Côtes du Bourg 2015

Set on rolling hillsides along the right bank of the river Gironde, the old vines of the tiny Chateau Martinat are rooted in a mix of limestone and clay soils. It’s perfect terroir for producing world class Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec grapes.

Château Martinat, a throwback, hidden gem of Bordeaux, flies under the radar of most importers and collectors. It’s a tiny estate by Bordeaux standards and for my taste, it’s better than most of the established Château. This is structured, mineral Bordeaux, with just incredible red fruit and complexity.

Delicious now, delicious in 10 years, this the kind of wine that drove collectors to obsess about Bordeaux in the first place. But a strong-dollar discount brings this back towards $20; you won’t feel the guilt if you pull a couple of corks this weekend with a simple, grilled steak. Go for it, it’s a great match.