Lalande D'Auvion Medoc 2001: Mature claret at a bargain price

Aged claret at under £15, you can't argue...

Working today in deepest Suffolk, UK, I found a wonderful little wine shop, with the help of a friend.

The owner has some absolute gems on his shelves.

His shop is called Wattisfield Wines in a lovely village called Walsham Le Willows. 

One these gems is this Lalande D'Auvion Medoc 2001.

At £13 this is a steal.

Mature, aged claret that opened up beautifully after an hour.

Critics seem to score it in the late 80's. For value and taste, it's fabulous.

The reviews, as always, seem to pick up things that I could never taste. But I can tell you it's delicious. I can't swear that: "This tawny-hued wine is beginning to reveal secondary aromatics of smoky bacon, caramel, leather and earth"  but for under £15, it is superb.

The grapes are harvested mechanically, according to the research I've done. But for the price you can't expect them individually caressed by an experienced picker.

This is what I love about learning about wine. You can find hidden gems in the least expected places, such as Walsham Le Willows. Here's where you can buy it. For value, it's hard to beat.

Chateau Picque Caillou 2005 (Pessac-Leognan)

This Chateau Picque Caillou 2005 from the UK's Wine Society is a decent buy at £18 per bottle if you are a Society member.

It's from a region of the Medoc, Pessac-Leognan, that I'm just starting to explore.

Pessac-Leognan seems to combine a spiciness with a smoothness that's quite surprising as a combination.

The 2005 is still of course, very young. I can see it aging very well.

It has a very compelling, rich and long finish that makes it go well with the oyster mushrooms with garlic and chilli I just cooked as an accompaniment. At £18 a bottle, it's worth a punt.

Barons de Rothschild Lafite Cuvée Spéciale Médoc 2006

I bought a mixed case of various Rothschild wines from Laithewaites a few weeks ago.

So far I'd only tried the Amancaya Gran Reserva Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, which is a nice smooth Argentinean. Nothing too special and lacks any real bite but very quaffable.

Tonight I opened the Barons de Rothschild Lafite Cuvée Spéciale Médoc 2006.

An hour after opening it's really impressive. Lovely smooth blackcurrant with a lengthy finish and not a hint of tannin. Classic Medoc, if still very young.

I'm not sure how much it is per bottle when not in a mixed case of 15 for £160 but I'm guessing it's pretty good value. Recommended for any Bordeaux fan.