Danielle Meunier works the same modest farmstead her family has owned in Saint Émilion, Bordeaux since the early 1800’s. She has a bold and direct manner, and the philosophy behind her property is similarly straightforward. Château Haut-Segottes is essentially a one-woman show with winemaking done in the basement and all grapes grown in the “backyard.” Of course, this is no ordinary backyard - the property is within a designated Grand Cru and is just around the corner from its most famous estate, Château Cheval Blanc ($1,300 per bottle, mind you). This, Danielle’s only wine bottled under the Saint Émilion Grand Cru appellation, is predominantly Cabernet Franc, with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Fermentation occurs in steel tank, followed by 18 months in small oak barrels (20% new) and bottling without filtration. This simple, old school approach produces wines that are coarse in their youth, but blossom after a few years in the cellar. This 2006 is a perfectly mature example of Danielle’s impressive talent, and a reminder of why patience is a wine lover’s most valuable asset.