(from a single parcel of land on clay and chalk soil, purchased from Chateau Canon; 85% merlot) Deep ruby-red. Very primary aromas of blackberry, mint and flowers. Sweet, plump and fine-grained, with juicy, nicely delineated flavors of berries and violet pastille. Firmly structured wine, finishing with building tannins and lingering sweetness. Incidentally, two of Jonathan Maltus's other St. Emilion wines, Les Asteries and Le Dome, are also single-vineyard cuvees from parcels rich in limestone; his other wines, Teyssier, Grand Destieux and Laforge, are essentially blends from vineyards at lower altitude.

A Jonathan Maltus wine. Mid crimson. A little stewed on the nose but with some aromatics too. Heavy and concentrated and very new wave. Quite painful on the finish. Pretty austere and chewy. Lots of green notes. Uncomfortable. All upfront. (JR)