Clos des Menuts, SAINT-ÉMILION

This vineyard takes pride of place among St Emilion's great vintages. One of the oldest properties in the town, and one of the highest at 90 meters (295 feet) above sea level, the 30-year old vineyard at Clos des Menuts spans some 30 hectares (74 acres) and produces a rich, full-bodied wine, brimming with distinguished flavor and verve. It is one of the few vintages to benefit from a long ageing process amid cavernous medieval cellars, hollowed right out of the rock, which maintain a constant ideal temperature of 12 degrees Celsius (53 degrees Fahrenheit). The tour includes a visit to the galleries where the wine is stored - entry and tasting is free if you make a purchase.