2012 Château La Lagune, Haut-Médoc

La Lagune sits on the first serious gravel outcrop you hit driving north through the Médoc. The soils—deep gravel beds over clay—mirror what you find in Margaux and the outer reaches of Latour. This is blue-chip terroir that was rightly classified as a third-growth back in 1855. The estate dates to 1587, and for over four centuries, it's been the insider's pick—the château that savvy Bordeaux collectors slyly pick off wine lists while others chase famous names at triple the price. The highly respected Frey family bought La Lagune in 2000. They also own Maison Jaboulet in the Rhône and have a stake in Champagne Billecart-Salmon—these aren't hobbyists. Caroline Frey took over winemaking and immediately began converting to biodynamic farming. In 2017, the French government made her a Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite for her winemaking excellence. The 2012 vintage was classic Left Bank: moderate temperatures, slow ripening, a splash of rain in September, and wines built for the long