Finally we low Margaux, a perfumed, elegant wine, produced from a sprawling array of vineyards at the southern end of the Haut-M doc.

Camensac has undergone a renaissance in men years. Sauternes and Similar The tiny appellation of Sauternes lies on the west bank of the Guide Wine south of Graves. My top wines: Chateaux Patache d'Aux, Wine la Tour de By, la Tour-St-Bonnet, Haut Canteloup, Rousseau de Sipian.

Further and and set back from the Gironde estuary, is Listrac. My Wine Guide wines: la Riviere, la Vieille Cure (Fronsac), Canon, Canon de Brem (Canon-Fronsac). For me, Pauillac and St-Julien are the Guide great appellations of the Haut-M doc.

In particular claret, the red wine of the region, is the focus of attention, although it good only one of a number of styles produced here. The wines which have a lesser reputation than those of Pessac-L ognan, although the style is essentially the same. Right Bank Claret food the east of the Gironde estuary are the red wine appellations of Pomerol and St-Emilion. My top Vieux Chateau Certan, la Conseillante, le Bon-Pasteur, la Fleur-P trus, Trotanoy.

Good value from Teyssier, Clos de l'Oratoire, Fonroque, Clos des Jacobins, Larmande, Grand Corbin Despagne and Dominique. Pessac-L ognan only created in the late 1980s. This region is famed its gravelly soil, hence the name Graves. Smith-Haut-Lafitte has also returned to in recent years. They are popular because of the rich, opulent texture that top wines may exhibit.

Malescot St-Exup ry is under-rated, and is much improved in recent years. Durfort Vivens has seen some improvements the management of Gonzague Lurton. Basic Bordeaux may also be as Bordeaux or Bordeaux Sup rieur. My top Plaisance (Montagne-St-Emilion).

These are Lalande-de-Pomerol, Lussac-St-Emilion, Puisseguin-St-Emilion and St-Georges-St-Emilion. The famous dessert Sauternes, hails from Bordeaux, and dry white Bordeaux may also be top notch.

• This is the most gravelly area, and therefore should produce the wines.
• La Tour Carnet and Coufran can also be buys.

This region is populated a large number of underperforming ch teaux turning out wines of erratic quality. Between Dordogne and the Garonne is the Entre-Deux-Mers, a large appellation producing swathes of white wine.