For all the wine lovers!

There is nothing better than a good wine recommendation, it makes all the difference when faced with a wall of reds in the supermarket or wine shop. And maybe it's psychological but like us do you enjoy it more when it's a top tip passed on by a friend? So this week we are excited to introduce our first guest bloggers, by day Business Manager at HAYS recruitment and Commecial Interior Designer and by night (and holiday) wine connoisseurs and friends of Noble Macmillan, Matt & Jade Winstone.

I am writing this blog sitting outside our amazing, rented, converted farmhouse, in the heart of the Bordeaux wine region owned by Jim & Jan Pyper (james.pyper@sfr.fr). With Bordeaux's superior vineyards surrounding the property and the sun setting to my right (and only on my second bottle of the day) it is not hard to see why this area is known as "God's Country".

My wife and I first visited the area three years ago, on our honeymoon, and we have returned back five times. With miles and miles of vineyards at your doorstep and with St Emilion, Pomerol and Petrus only thirty minutes away, there cannot be a more perfect spot. We would like to share with you a couple of our favourite vineyards in the area:

1) Chateau Claribes www.claribes.com

This wonderful chateau, in a picture perfect hamlet of Bordeaux is owned by a wonderful English couple, Nick & Helen. They moved over from England around seven years ago and are breaking new boundaries in wine making. They are only too happy to show you around their vineyard and teach you all about the process it takes to produce fantastic wine.

2) Chateau Carbonneau www.chateau-carbonneau.com

This is lovely looking Chateau with good value range of wines that would grace any dinner party.

3) Chateau Gazin, Pomerol

One of the best wine producers in the Pomerol area and a personal favourite of our great friends Henry & Bella Samuelson.

4)Chateau Fonplegade, St Emilion

In the heart of the St Emilion wine area it is easy to be overcharged for your wine, but not at this vineyard. We were lucky enough to be invited by the owners, Mr & Mrs Adams, to a private function celebrating the 2011 harvest. They have just discovered a bottle of their 1928 vintage showing that their vineyard was,back then, classified as Premier Grand Cru. If this is acknowledged in the future (and it is looking likely) then their wines will be promoted to their former glory and will become an even better investment opportunity.

Bordeaux wine, with so many vineyards, can sometimes become a bit of a lottery so the biggest tip that I can give someone is to buy wines by the year that they were produced. Bordeaux wines from 2010, 2009, 2005, 2003 and 2001 are exceptional years with a long future ahead of them. Unfortunately, due to a hot long spring and a wet July & August the 2011 harvest is 40% down.

I think I have rambled on long enough but I do not need to mention that it is easy to forget which wines are good or bad so my top tip after every vineyard visit would be to make sure you note down what you have liked and what you have not.

Matthew & Jade Winstone

Noble Macmillan Cellar Books from £59.