Location, location, location. Château Franc-Maillet sits in the heart of Pomerol — and its neighbours read like a who’s who of the wine world’s most coveted addresses: Pétrus, Vieux Château Certan, L’Évangile, and Lafleur are all within touching distance. The same iron-rich clay soils, the same plateau, the same exceptional terroir — at a fraction of the price. The 2020 vintage is one of the greatest in Bordeaux for a generation, and Franc-Maillet has made the most of it. This is a deeply impressive Pomerol: a predominantly Merlot blend with a touch of Cabernet Franc, it has a deep ruby colour and a nose that is fully loaded with cassis, dark cherry, kirsch, and blackberry, underpinned by a lovely earthy minerality that speaks directly of those famous iron-rich soils. On the palate it’s rich and generous, with a soft, supple tannic structure, just enough acidity to keep everything fresh and balanced, and a long, luxurious finish. Great value Pomerol is not a phrase you hear often — but at £56.99 for a wine from this address in this vintage, it absolutely applies.