A sexy wine for the vintage, with lovely cherry, berry and vanilla character. Medium-bodied, with silky tannins and a medium finish. James Suckling

Quickly evolving aromas of plum, tobacco, roasted nuts and smoke. Smooth and vinous in the mouth, with game and leather notes. A wine of only moderate depth but not flaccid or short.

Medium ruby with purple nuances, this ripe St.-Julien exhibits delicious, sweet cassis fruit mixed with high quality toasty oak. The wine possesses fat, accessible fruit flavors, attractive glycerin, and no hardness. Neither big nor muscular, it is a medium-bodied, elegant, savory, charming, and delicious effort to be enjoyed over the next 6-7 years.

Broad and browning rim. Very peppery nose, some mushroom notes and still lots of spiced capsicum on the palate. Surprising weight given this more cedary, leafy vintage. Tannins rather grainy. Julia Harding MW May 2009