Bordeaux – good Bordeaux – continues to fall out of the affordability column for many of us. Here is a Merlot-dominated version from Pierre Lurton (the man behind Chateaux Cheval Blanc and d’Yquem) that is not only affordable but very approachable early: silky smooth with lovely dark fruit, mocha-cherry, some floral and even a finish that can best be described as pretty with its smoked-pepper-dark fruit ... it’s ripe and ready to go and you could even sit it in the cellar 5 or so years.   (****)