For centuries, the Dutch have gained renown for pioneering water drainage methods around the Netherlands, but their technological prowess has stretched far beyond their homeland. The Médoc region to the northwest of Bordeaux, for instance, had been salt marsh until the mid-seventeenth century, when Dutch engineers (many of whom loved Bordeaux wine) drained the land, exposing hundreds of hectares of gravelly soils that proved to be perfectly suited for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. Thanks to these engineers, the Médoc—and the Haut-Médoc, in particular—has become one of the most important wine regions in the world, producing complex and age-worthy reds made mostly from Cabernet Sauvignon as well as other grapes that make up the Left Bank’s supporting cast: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Here, between the famed communes of Saint-Julien and Margaux, Château Aney has produced wines of class and elegance for generations, thanks to savvy vignerons and ideal conditions. Tempered by the cool breezes blowing from the nearby Garonne River, the summer sun warms the round and polished river stones scattered through the gravelly soils, redistributing heat to the vines and helping them reach full maturation in early autumn.
     Nearly a decade old, it is in a sublime place today. While it is beautiful as soon as you pop the cork, it continues to improve after time in your glass, relaxing its chiseled frame and showing a more succulent and velvety side, evoking notes of blackcurrant, black cherries, and tobacco. Serve it with flank steak or a seared duck breast for a match made in Bordelais heaven.