2010 Château Cambon la Pelouse

Bright, saturated medium red-ruby. Sexy aromas of cherry, black raspberry and licorice are lifted by a floral topnote. Supple and suave, with subtle sweetness and good medicinal reserve to the dark berry and violet flavors. At once lush and lively, with the spine of minerals, acidity and tannins to evolve positively for a decade or more. Finishes with very good persistence.

There are nearly 200,000 bottles of this dense ruby/purple wine, which exhibits load of licorice, barbecue smoke, roasted meats, black currants and sweet cherries. It is well-made, medium-bodied, with silky tannins and a long finish. Surprisingly, even here the alcohols hit 14% naturally. This wine should drink nicely for 5-7 years. This large estate, located not far from the classified-growth chateaux of Cantemerle and Giscours, has produced a blend of 50% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot.