It takes a lot for Bordeaux Superieur to stand out from the crowd. It’s a big crowd and most of it is what the Brits call plonk. Serviceable but unremarkable. When Benoit Meyer inherited the 500 year old Chateau in the 1990s, he wondered if he could raise the level of the estate, noting it had soil very similar to that of nearby Pomerol. With a little extra care and attention the wines started to show depth and elegance that you generally have to pay $40 or $50 to find in Bordeaux. This might be Chateau de Cugat’s entry tier wine, but it is remarkable. The nose offers rich tilled earth, blackberry and blueberry and black plum, cinnamon, and countryside aromas of tobacco leaf, tomato patch, bay leaf. The palate shows deeply etched black plum and blackberry and a heaping helping of herbs and clay earth. There’s sturdy tannins and surprisingly fresh acidity before a finish that comes with a hint of barrel spice, black fruit, and dried herbs. Summer squash and steak off the grill is our vote for pairing.