Château Lascombes, Second-Growth Margaux

The 2010 Lascombes is elegantly layered, sublime, loaded with earth and savor—wines like this create that “aha” moment for those who still cannot grasp the unrivaled greatness of the Left Bank. With 30 minutes in a decanter, the wine unfolds with soft, unobtrusive aromas of blackcurrant, licorice, roasted strawberries, dried black raspberry, wild plum, bay leaf, black tea, crushed rock, violet, and a touch of baking spice. The palate is superbly balanced with a plush core of dark berry fruit that’s enhanced by a firm mineral backbone. It’s precise, chiseled, and velvety all in one. Ready to please for the immediate with the ability to cellar for another 15 years.