Maison Sichel is a highly-respected family company, ticking all the boxes – Château owner, producer and négociant house, family-owned since its establishment in 1883. The Corney & Barrow buying team blended this claret, guided by Technical Director, Yvan Meyer. The constituent wines are from selected cuvées of grapes produced by Sichel’s long-term growers, based on the clay-limestone slopes of the Right Bank of the Garonne River and on siliceous boulbène in the Entre-Deux-Mers. Aged in vats rather than barrels, the wine has a lovely freshness and lively fruit character, with a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot.  Mature garnet in colour. Warm cherry and plum compote on the nose, with hints of sweet sultana and fruitcake. The palate is lovely, surprisingly useful and balanced, with a mocha-layered finish. Drinking so well now - best with food.     Mature claret, both easy drinking and thought-provoking Cabernet Sauvignon- dominated - makes for a younger style Good food wine as a half bottle- great Sunday lunch wine without inducing to snooze