Balthus is a special Merlot cuvee produced by Château de Reignac in the Entre Deux Mers region of Bordeaux. The original château was built in the 16th century and in 1990 it was purchased by Yves and Stephanie Vatelot, who renovated the estate. In 2002 they purchased 7.5 acres of nearby Merlot vineyards and began producing Balthus. Balthus is the estate’s prestige cuvee and it routinely earns ratings in the low 90s from Wine Advocate. Robert Parker has written that “Reignac is the reference point for what can be achieved in Bordeaux’s less prestigious appellations. “