Chateau Picard, (located in the centre of Saint-Estephe), was classified a cru bourgeois in 1932, and has always been conside- red one of the best wines in the appellation. This is the most recent vineyard purchased by Mahler-Besse (1997). The 8-hectare estate was chosen for its considerable potential and medium-sized area, making it easier to oversee production. Once they bought Chateau Picard, Mahler-Besse renovated the Napoleon III-style cellars and installed efficient winemaking equipment, incorporating gravity flow. The exceptional soil is clayey for the most part, which is quite typical of Saint-Estephe. It is also full of fossilised cockleshells and sea urchins. Chateau Picard is mostly planted with Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is subtly smoky and spicy. It is definitely high-class, and easy to identify because of its unusual label showing two flamingos standing on one leg, wings outstretched.