This is a sensational effort. A limited production cuvee fashioned from five plus acres of the Fombrauge vineyard, the debut vintage was 2000. The fruit is picked extremely ripe and given an unusually long maceration, resulting in a modern-styled blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc made from low yields of 24 hectoliters per hectare. A black/blue color is accompanied by an extraordinary nose of melted chocolate, espresso roast, creme de cassis, smoke, and charcoal. It boasts a fabulous texture, hints of lead pencil shavings, a full-bodied, dense, heady mid-palate, low acidity, and a voluptuously textured, rich finish that lasts for nearly a minute. Considerable tannin lurks beneath the surface, but it is well-concealed by the wine’s wealth of fruit, extract, and glycerin. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2016. Bravo!

Deep, intense, rich, full bodied and opulent in texture, the wine is still a bit too dominated by oak, making it difficult for ripe, black cherries, licorice, crushed stone and spicy notes to get their due. This is a very modern style of Bordeaux that might be better if it were dialed back just a bit.

: Bright ruby-red. Raspberry, smoke and nutty oak on the nose. Sweet and fairly dense in the middle palate, with the berry flavors coming across as more vibrant than those of the Magrez-Fombrauge. Finishes with firm tannins and good persistence.

Very, very deep crimson. Sweet palate entry. Very, very modern. Thick and sweet. Hints of licorice. Lots of oak underneath. Quite painful acidity. Sudden end. (JR)