Château Tour Marcillanet pours a deep garnet, moving out to a variegated brick red rim. Rose petals dominate the florality on the nose, before quickly melding into layers of ripe currant, raspberries, and cherries. As it opens, further notes come out of hiding: baked clay, gravel, savory herbs, bay leaf, tobacco, cigar wrapper, leather, and a smattering of sweet baking spices. A ‘comfortable’ medium bodied, this is 2010 Bordeaux at its most integrated. For its eight years of age, this is as supple and soft as they come—blowing away all competitors in this price range. Many Bordeaux values can be somewhat harsh and unwelcoming, even with proper age under their belt, but you’ll only discover a silky smooth, red-fruited, spice-tinged palate here. Soft-shouldered tannins and building acidity provides wonderful freshness throughout with vibrant notes of red-black fruit and persisting crushed rock/earth minerality. This wine can easily withstand more cellaring—up to ten more years—but it’s enjoying the prime of its life as we speak. After a 15-20 minute decant, pour into large Bordeaux stems and serve alongside slow-roasted lamb shanks to boost this graceful, complex, and savory Bordeaux gem. Cheers!