Part of the empire of Bernard Magrez, this blend of 61% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc is a sleeper of the vintage in 2012. Its excellent dense ruby/purple color, sweet cassis, black cherry fruit, supple tannins, medium to full body and attractive, long finish make for an impressive wine that should drink nicely for 10-15 years. It’s already accessible. This is another wine that performed dramatically better from the bottle than from barrel tastings.- RP

The 2012 La Tour Carnet is gorgeous. Dark red stone fruits, flowers and sweet spices are some of the notes that inform this soft, pliant wine. I expect the 2012 will develop a further range of exotic aromas and flavors as it develops in bottle. This is another overachieving wine from Bernard Magrez and Michel Rolland. Drink it over the next decade.