This luxury micro-cuvée is made from 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc from the best parcel on the large Fombrauge vineyard. The wine is aged 22 months in 100% new French oak and bottled with no pumping, fining or filtration. Blueberries galore along with some spring flower notes lead to a sensational perfume that borders on perfection. The color is a saturated purple right to the rim. Full-bodied, with the new oak well-concealed, this super-rich, concentrated and extracted wine is massive and set for another 25-30 years of life. This is one of the most prodigious wines of the vintage and another great success for Bernard Magrez and his winemaking team, led by Michel Rolland. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2045.

The quintessential garagiste offering from proprietor Bernard Magrez, this blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc receives such Burgundian treatments as a cold pre-fermentation maceration, malolactic in barrel, aging on its lees, and no fining or filtration. Offering a dense purple color along with huge creosote, smoke, melted licorice, fudge, blueberry, graphite, and coffee characteristics, it represents full-throttle, modern winemaking at its most intense, and is likely to cause neo-traditionalists to suffer from migraines. Expect this beauty to hit full maturity around 2014, and keep until 2030+.

Tasted blind. Very dark crimson. Light nose. Search for the flavour! Lots of structure. Very drying finish. Not much charm. (JR)