2016 Château Cap Leon Veyrin Cru Bourgeois Supérieur Magnum

Château Cap Léon Veyrin began with a double wedding. In the 19th century, two brothers of the Meyre family, who owned the Cap Léon vineyard, married the two daughters who owned the neighbouring Veyrin estate. The two properties were joined and took the name they carry today. The family has been on this land since 1810.

“Cap” comes from the old word for “head”, a nod to the vineyard’s position at the top of the Listrac plateau. Listrac is one of the Médoc’s lesser-known appellations, set further inland than the riverside villages. Its higher, cooler ground tends to produce reds with freshness and firm structure, and they often offer better value than their more famous neighbours.

The estate is now run by Nathalie and Julien Meyre, the sixth generation. They took over from their father Alain and built a new winery while keeping the house traditions: a Merlot-led blend, hand harvesting, a year in barrel and fining with egg whites. Their vineyards are certified HVE Level 3, France’s highest environmental certification for farming. The family also makes wine at Château Bibian, a historic Listrac estate, and Château Julien in the Haut-Médoc. They were also early pioneers of wine tourism in the Médoc, opening their cellar door to visitors long before it was common.