Château du Retout is run by the talented Helene Soual-Kopp and her husband Frederic on the border of Saint Julient. The estate covers 34 hectars of prime AOC Haut Medoc vineyards which include 1.5 hectares of white grape varieties, and comprise two major soil types: clay and gravelly soils on the lower part of the ridge and deep Garonne gravel on the upper levels. The minimum age of the vines is 30 years, but there are many which are approaching 80 or 90 years old. Red grapes are planted with 68.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24.5% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot. The tiny plots used for making the exceptional white wine is planted with old white grape varieties from outside the appellation including Sauvignon Gris, Gros Manseng, Savagnin and Mondeuse Blanche. Low intervention methods make the vines resilient and a number of sustainable methods are used to preserve the integrity of the vineyard including 100% natural fertiliser made from horse manure and organic waste from the estate, disbudding, leaf stripping and 100% ploughing to enable deep rooting. Exceptional work on the vines producing interesting, balanced wines that are an absolute delight. One to watch.