Tasted at Vintex. This has a rich, opulent nose of black cherries, kirsch and smoke, well defined but perhaps just a little heady at the moment. The palate is full-bodied, grippy tannins, firm backbone with an pleasing austere, slightly peppery finish that reminds me more of a Saint Julien. Good potential. Tasted March 2010.

Dark red. Subdued aromas of cassis, blackberry, menthol and violet. Suave and vibrant if on the lean side, with harmonious acidity framing the penetrating black fruit flavors. The impression of strong acidity carries through on the firmly tannic finish, which calls for several years of aging.

Purple ruby. Open, aromatic nose is loaded with ripe red and black cherry aromas. Rich, lush and sweet, with noteworthy depth to the flavors of dark fruits, smoke and chocolate. Sexy, broad and aromatic in the middle palate, and long on the aftertaste, but this complex, very deep wine's youthfully chewy tannins call for a good decade of cellaring. This will probably be best between 2020 and 2035.

Tasted blind. Smudgy greyish crimson. Smudgy nose. Sweet start but not much follow-through. Very diffuse. (JR)