Put bluntly, any exploration into France’s greatest wines is incomplete without the inclusion of Domaine de Trévallon, yet the legend and reputation of this estate’s flagship red is still not reflected in its final price. The only plausible explanation is its place of origin: If this were a Classified Growth château—and yes, it most definitely belongs in elite Bordelais company—it would cost many multiples more.

As the tale goes, a fateful visit from Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti helped chart Trévallon’s meteoric rise: In 1978, after tasting the estate’s wines, he tipped off Kermit Lynch, who turned up at Trévallon soon after and began importing the wines. Trévallon has held court with unparalleled eloquence, and soulful quirkiness, ever since. Blending Cabernet Sauvignon with a substantial percentage of Syrah (these days it’s 50-50) was not a traditional practice in 1970s Provence, but it worked from the start. And it still works, to perfection—it even prompted Robert Parker to call it “...one of the greatest discoveries of [his] life.” Grown in the clay/limestone soils of Alpilles, in the Baux de Provence, this is essential drinking for anyone who is passionate about French wine collectibles—a quintessential bottle that tugs at your heartstrings without taxing your wallet.