The wine could possibly be described as tannic. It is a saturated, medium-to-dark-colored wine. Aromatically revealing blackberries, cassis, violets, and Asian spices dusted with cinnamon, this backward, tightly-wound, and introverted wine is a bruiser. It is powerful, highly-structured, massively-concentrated, foursquare, full-bodied, masculine, and jam-packed with stewed blackberries, plums, earth and rock-like flavors. It should be at its peak between 2004 and 2010. Importers: Martine's Wines, Inc., San Rafael, CA; tel (415) 485-1800, and Paterno Imports, Chicago, IL; tel (847) 604-8900.

Very deep ruby-red. Reticent blueberry and mineral nose offers an intriguing saltiness. Wonderfully intense, juicy and penetrating on the palate. Extremely unevolved and wrapped up in its own structure. With a bit less density and buffering extract, this comes across as harder today than the Clos de la Roche. This, too, will require extended cellaring.