Wine of the week: a top claret to drink now

2017 Château Larrivaux, Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France

£18.50, hhanc.co.uk

When this esteemed issue hits your doormat, I will be in Bordeaux putting the finishing touches to my 2023 En Primeur Report. While I always taste and score all the great estates’ wines, this buyer’s guide to the most famous wine region in the world omits the pricing for these youthful creations. I am not privy to the release prices until they are announced in due course, and this year, there is immense pressure on the region to slash pricing following a series of unsuccessful campaigns. If you want to swerve this often confusing bunfight and load up with a couple of utterly impressive and incredibly reasonably priced Bordeaux that are drinking right now, then look no further. My featured Larrivaux is at its peak of drinking with sultry, harmonious, perfectly balanced fruit. And it is not the only wine HH&C has ruthlessly hunted down and bagged for our delectation. Here is a series of thrilling wines you should consider – note the bottle price and discounted rate for a case.

The 2019 Château Virecourt Conté (£14-£12.45) must be the finest value claret of the year, packing in robust fruit and a decent amount of élan. 2020 Château

Beausejour (£14.10-£12.55; magnums £28.95-£25.75) shows just how delicious wellsituated Fronsac Châteaux can perform in great vintages. The 2018 Château du Retout (£22.35-£19.85) is dense, brooding and with a good life ahead of it. The 2019 Château Domeyne (£28.70-£25.50) is a glorious St-Estèphe with profound minerality, while 2014 Clos Marsalette (£32£28.50) is utter class.

Matthew Jukes is a winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition’s Communicator of the Year (MatthewJukes.com).