Badine de la Patache is a reference to the horse whips used by the drivers of 19th century stagecoaches. Château La Patache sits at the site of a former passageway for these stagecoaches in Pomerol. Badine de la Patache is a 90/10 blend of merlot and cab franc sourced from several plots on the property, all worked by hand to reach a final result that is high in quality yet quite low in quantity. There simply isn’t much of this wine produced.

On the nose you’ll find cherry, strawberry, vanilla (from 12 months in oak) and forest undergrowth. It’s savoury on the palate, rather medium-bodied for Bordeaux, and laden with silky tannins which don’t require years and years of cellaring. So no need to crack that whip if someone pops the cork right away.