Juicy red currant with subtle smoked herbs, truffle, and spice box jump from the glass of this dense ruby/purple-colored wine. Possessing silky tannins, seductive, ripe fruit with an opulent texture and no hard edges, but serious tannin lurking behind the wealth of fruit and glycerin, this is another classic Pessac-Leognan that can be drunk young or cellared for 20-25 years. (Tasted three times.)

A sensational wine from this Pessac-Leognan estate, the 2009 possesses notes of charcoal, graphite, roasted herbs, truffles, spice box, and luxurious quantities of black currant and black cherry fruit. Full-bodied, impressively endowed. and well under the radar for most consumers, this outstanding wine is a sleeper of the vintage and well worth buying. It should drink well for 15 or more years.

Red-ruby. Liqueur-like aromas of black cherry, strawberry, mocha and smoky roasted herbs; a southern style of Bordeaux. Supple, sweet and elegant, with ripe, expressive flavors of red fruits, mocha and herbs complicated by leather and underbrush. Harmonious ripe acidity gives lift to this sexy wine. Finishes with a saline quality and lovely length. Drink over the next 12 to 15 years. One of my sentimental favorites in 2009.

Tasted at the Pessac UGC. This has a light, very primal bouquet with grapefruit, lime, a touch of peach and apple-blossom. The palate is well balanced with racy acidity, ample lime and pear tinged fruit, good depth, quite linear towards the finish but with good length. Attractive. Tasted April 2010.