(30% new barriques Medium ruby. Brooding aromas of raspberry, leather and pepper, along with bacon fat and spicy oak. Lush and smooth but sappy, with sound acidity for the year (and higher than that of the '99, according to Stephane). Not especially dense but elegantly styled. Finishes with fine tannins and a hint of leather.

Syrah plus less than 1% Viognier, 25 year-old vines, 60% Côte Blonde, 40% Côte Brune, 35-42 hl/ha yield, 50% de-stemmed, 3-day pre-fermentation cold maceration, fermented in stainless steel, 21-28 day cuvaison, aged 18 months in French oak barrels (1/3 new). Mid ruby. Charred, tarry nose. Relatively light and dry. Desperately needs food! A solid though not ethereal effort. Acidity still there. Same score and drinking dates as the Monteillet but a very different, more traditional style of wine… (JR)