Château La Tour de Bessan Cru Bourgeois Margaux 2010: Delightful floral nose; plum, blackberry, blackcurrant tang, black tea, minerality, smoke; oak toast, vanilla and spice from 18 months in French oak barrels; firm body, silky texture; 64% cab, 33% merlot, 3% cab franc; slightly rustic with intense-but-integrated tannin, good acidity, long finish. Margaux is southern appellation of the Médoc and has the most gravely soil (the next region south is named for gravel—Graves), which forces vines to put down deep roots and gives Margaux wines their mineral notes. Margaux may produce the most outstanding wines in the Médoc in good vintages and struggle the most in difficult years. Fortunately, 2010 was excellent year, as this wine demonstrates at a great price. Like most Bordeaux reds, this significantly benefits from decanting. $27
