Bottle unfined and unfiltered, it exhibits notes of Christmas fruitcake, black raspberry, cedar wood and spice box and has a full-bodied, fleshy, succulent mouthfeel, sweet tannin and decent acidity along with the tell-tale purity that always seems to emerge from the Perse estates. This wine should drink beautifully for at least 12-15 or more years. Drink: 2013 - 2028

The 2010 is a brilliant effort from this estate, which occupies 80 acres on the so-called “wrong side” of the road dividing the appellation of St.-Emilion in two. Yields were a modest 33 hectoliters per hectare and the wine is a blend of 70% Merlot and the rest mostly Cabernet Franc with some Cabernet Sauvignon.
-Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013

(91-93 pts)
2010: The 2010 Monbousquet (14% natural alcohol) is composed of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. More restrained and less exuberant and flamboyant than usual, it exhibits a dense ruby/purple hue along with plenty of sweet black raspberry and black cherry fruit intermixed with tell-tale toasty, oaky notes as well as a hint of espresso roast. This medium to full-bodied, ripe St.-Emilion will be ideal for drinking in its first 10-12 years of life.

Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Monbousquet slides effortlessly out of the glass with seductive notes of baked plums, blackberry compote and dried mulberries plus hints of espresso, black olives and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is firmly structured with chewy tannins and lively acidity framing the Rubenesque fruit, finishing long and savory.

This packs a lot in, with very lushly textured black cherry sauce, blackberry and boysenberry fruit all laced with anise, graphite and fig cake notes. The very long and fleshy finish is not shy at all. —J.M.

A blend 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon cropped at 28hl/ha, this has a very intense nose of dark berried fruit that could do with a little more delineation. The palate is full-bodied with grippy tensile tannins, very powerful but I like the tension and mineralité coming though on the finish. It will take 8-10 years to really show its mettle, but great potential. Drink 2018-2030+ Tasted March 2011.

I love the finish on this. It’s different in style for this estate with bright cherries and berries and chocolate. Long and refined. Very pretty. All in the finish.

Bright ruby-red. High-toned aromas of dark berries, espresso and bitter chocolate. Superconcentrated but a bit youthfully gritty, with strong acidity keeping the chewy cassis, licorice, spicecake and bitter chocolate flavors under wraps today. Finishes with serious ripe tannins. This rather brooding wine will need at least a few years in bottle to express its personality.

(60% merlot, 30% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon, cropped at a reported 28 hectoliters per hectare; 14% alcohol) Deep, glass-staining inky-purple. Fresh aromas of blackberry and dark cherry complicated by ink and licorice nuances. Soft and rich in the mouth, with an almost unctuous texture to its black fruit, saline and floral flavors. Finishes fresh and long.

Tasted blind. Deep smudgy garnet. A bit stalky on the nose but also a marked mocha (oak?) aroma. Chewy, thick and oaky on the palate too but there’s decent fruit to keep the walls of tannin apart. Pretty tough but maybe just needs a lot more time? (JH)