Les Forts de Latour is the wonderful second label of the famous Château Latour of Pauillac. Les Forts lacks none of the legendary power and concentration of its elder brother although it is approachable at a much earlier age. Rich Cabernet influence dominates this wine that comes from Latour fruit that doesn't make the grand vin as well as the younger vine material. The 2009 is considered one of the truly great vintages in living memory and it is in these years that secondary wines like this Forst de Latour really shine. Value and pedigree all wrapped in one package!

Château Léoville-Las-Cases is classified as a 2nd Growth, but can rightfully claim to produce wines equal and superior to some 1st growths. Léoville's label (Grand Vin de Léoville du Marquis de Las Cases) doesn't mention the

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron has become simply known as

While Chateau Latour might be proximate to the famed Leoville estate, Chateau Leoville-Las-Cases is individually distinguished for its own unique character, and regularly is called the best wine of St-Julien. Classic Las Cases wines show incredible perfume, a result of lower temperature fermentation and an adherence to around three quarters of their barrels being new oak. The 2010 is as always Cabernet Sauvignon dominant, and shows with elegance, finesse and yet a layered complexity that draws the drinker in. Potential for this wine is immense; a life of 30 to 40 years in cellar should be considered.

The second wine of Chateau Mouton Rothschild was first released in 1993. Le Petit Mouton takes its name from a small house next to the main Chateau, the official residence of Baron Philippe Rothschilds wife and family. The Chateaus modern age began in 1922 producing vintages through what were, at the time, cutting-edge techniques; though seen as revolutionary at the time, many of these methods are still in use today. This includes the groundbreaking concept of bottling all wine on the estate, allowing for an unprecedented level of control over the Bordeaux sold from Mouton-Rothschild.

Chateau Canon shows no shy and retiring character in 2010, set to a naturally ripe and high 15% alcohol. Though power and density is a motif in 2010, there is a surprising suppleness in this wine, born from central St-Emillion vineyards and the same family of wine as Chateau Rauzan-Segla of Margaux. Almost evenly split between Merlot and Cabernet Franc usually, it''s three quarters Merlot in 2010; the wine matures in oak barrel for 18 months, with around 70% of those offering new wood character. While dense and compact, there is a succulence to the wine that suggests cellaring to two decades would be apt.