B-21 Top Recommendation
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Even in the world of wine, at first glance some assertions can be hard to believe. So when the headline reads "Petrus Winemaker's Highly Rated Bordeaux for Under $30," a healthy amount of skepticism is expected. Savvy Bordeaux lovers looking for incredible value will want to read on. Sourced from the Montagne AOC just across the river from Saint-Émilion, the show stopping 2018 Vieux Chateau Saint Andre exhibits rich plum, fig and hints of spice, a vibrant blend of complexity and smooth tannic structure, produced under the leadership of "Master of Merlot" Jean-Claude Berrouet, the legendary winemaker at Petrus for 44 vintages.
When Jean-Claude retired from Petrus in 2007, all eyes were on his son Olivier, who succeeded his father as winemaker at Petrus. But behind the scenes, Berrouet already had established "another" Right Bank chateau, one that his other son Jean-François, known as "Jeff," would eventually be tapped to take the reins. After decades of traveling the region, in 1978 Jean-Claude chose the small and lesser-known satellite of Saint-Émilion known as Montagne (literally "mountain") for his new project, aptly named for its rolling hills, with soils featuring clay, gravel and limestone similar to neighboring Saint-Émilion. Befriending the owner of a small estate, Jean-Claude purchased his original four hectares of vines and produced his first vintage in an area critic Robert Parker asserts produces "some of the deepest, richest wines" among the appellations surrounding Saint-Émilion. Today Jeff oversees the operation, growing the estate to around 12 hectares and markedly improving viticulture, with the vineyard planted to a majority of Merlot and around 25% Cabernet Franc.
As a further testament to his prowess as a winemaker, patriarch Jean-Claude has mentored hundreds of young winemakers throughout his career, with many going on to produce some of the top wines in the world, including Alvaro Palacios, Peter Sisseck of Pingus and Daniel Baron of Silver Oak, earning him the 2018 Winemaker's Winemaker Award from the Institute of Masters of Wine. The artfully crafted 2018 Vieux Chateau Saint André reflects the family's dedication to improving vineyard management combined with the legacy of extraordinary wine making expertise of a Bordeaux legend, an exceptional Merlot-based blend balancing purity of fruit and structure, at a price that really is hard to believe. But with its incredible pedigree and 92pt rating in an exceptional vintage, it will be easy to take that leap of faith – and stock up while you can. | 
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