I was blown away by the 2009 Château Marojallia, which is certainly the finest wine I've tasted from this estate (although I suspect recent vintages will give it a run for their money at maturity). Its still youthful ruby/plum color is followed by a killer bouquet of crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, dried flowers, chocolate, and loamy soil-like aromas and flavors. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, its fleshy oak is almost completely integrated, and it appears to be at the early stages of its prime drinking window. Just a fabulous wine with classic Margaux character, I followed this bottle for three days and it never faded or showed a hint of oxidation. Bravo!

This is possibly the finest wine I have ever tasted from this property, run by Jean-Luc Thunevin and his partner Murielle Andraud. An absolutely stunning nose of violets, creme de cassis, lead pencil shavings, forest floor and subtle new oak burst from the glass. The wine has great fruit, superb texture, a full-bodied mouthfeel and an extravagantly rich, concentrated palate with low acidity and ripe tannin. Give it another 3-4 years to firm up and lose some baby fat, then drink it over the following 20+ years.

An inky/purple color is accompanied by sweet aromas of licorice, blackberries, blueberries, violets, and graphite. This full-bodied, concentrated Margaux is unevolved, but the wine is bursting with potential. It may not eclipse Marojallia-s other-worldly 2005 or 2000, but this is a beauty with slightly more glycerin, heady alcohol, and plumpness than usual. It should drink well for two decades. (Tasted once.)