Barrel sample. With marked acidity as well as black fruits, this is a wine with weight and richness. It has a dark core of firm tannins, although the aftertaste maintains the juiciness.

A beauty from Henri Lurton, the 2012 Brane Cantenac exhibits classic notes of spring flowers intermixed with black raspberries, black currants and damp forest floor. This medium-bodied, sweet, ripe, quintessentially elegant, medium-bodied Margaux is nicely concentrated as well as sexy. Enjoy it over the next 10-12 years.

Plush yet focused, with a loam-tinged structure carrying dark plum, blackberry coulis and tobacco notes. Cuts a broad swath through the finish, with an echo of freshly drawn espresso. Solid, with a pleasant old-school twinge. Best from 2016 through 2022. 9,250 cases made.