(a blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot, and 2.5% each petit verdot and cabernet franc) Good bright ruby. Tight, pure aromas of cassis, cherry, violet and pepper. Dense and rather powerful, with strong fruit (raspberry, currant) and spice notes. This has barely begun absorbing the new oak despite the fact that it's aging in all new barrels. Sappy, pure and sweet, finishing with broad, fine tannins. Shows off the nobility of the terroir but with a bit less austerity and more early sweetness than other recent vintages.

(a blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 5% petit verdot and 5% cabernet franc; 13.4% alcohol): Deep ruby-red. Delicate scents of black cherry, forest floor, ink, licorice and minerals. Sweet and pliant, with flavors of dark fruits, tobacco leaf and fresh herbs nicely lifted by juicy acidity. This has sneaky concentration for what was a weak, rainy vintage. With its rather silky texture, fleshy black fruit flavor and restrained sweetness, it's also drinking well relatively early and there probably isn't a lot to be gained by holding onto it much longer.

Drink 2008-2015
-Parker's Wine Buyer's Guide No 7

This is a delicate, lighter-styled effort revealing ethereal aromas of smoked herbs, red currants, cherries, and loamy soil. Medium-bodied, pleasant, but somewhat superficial, this is a vintage of diminished value to drink now and over the next 8-10 years.

There is a still some prominent new oak on the nose, which does not reconcile with previous encounters, this one showing a little oxidation. Ripe entry on the palate, chewy tannins, herbaceous leafy element inflecting the slightly disjointed finish. Not bad, but it would benefit from more focus and refinement. Tasted October 2009.

This is a delicate, lighter-styled effort revealing ethereal aromas of smoked herbs, red currants, cherries, and loamy soil. Medium-bodied, pleasant, but somewhat superficial, this is a vintage of diminished value to drink now and over the next 8-10 years.

Very light, rather soapy nose. Sweet start and rather gentle, supple palate but lacks a bit of intensity. (JR)

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. Harvested 2 to 15 October. Deeper, brighter colour with brick at the rim. Faint red-fruit aroma. Sweet and round on the palate (seems like there’s more Merlot but there isn’t) but not much drive. Slightly warm and flat on the finish. (JL)