What an unexpected treat it is to have a Bordeaux like this for under $20! We imagine it was difficult for the Chateau to hold back stock of the excellent 2016 vintage, but we’re glad they did because as good as it was when first released six years ago, it’s only gotten better since. Lafond is the second wine of Chateau Mazeris, one of the oldest and most important wineries of the appellation, and since the vineyards are planted on the classic right-bank recipe of sand and clay, this is pure Merlot country. Meticulous organic farming – a nice surprise in such a big-business wine region – makes for beautifully balanced grapes that need no oak to add structure or complexity. Aromas begin with blackberries and blueberries, tobacco and rich clay soil. The palate is strung with long tannins that have aged into elegance, with deep black cherry, wild blueberry and currants with more rich soil lingering on the finish.