Château Cissac, Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois 2018

The 18th-century château at Cissac was built on the remains of a Roman villa, and the Vialard family’s connection to the estate dates to 1895, when Jacques Mondon purchased it. His grandson, Louis Vialard, inherited the property and spent the mid-20th century establishing its reputation, moving to England to sell the wines and building a following in the British market that continues to this day. Danielle Vialard joined her father in 1968 and took over winemaking; her daughter, Marie, has run the estate since 2000. The 50 hectares are planted predominantly with Cabernet Sauvignon alongside Merlot and Petit Verdot, on gravelly soils over clay and limestone, close to the borders of Saint-Estèphe and Pauillac.