As I have consistently written in the past, this limited production cuvee, from a 12-acre site that contains a parcel of extremely old vines, 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, is meant to last three decades or more. Tasting like a liqueur of rocks interwoven with creme de cassis, espresso roast, toasty oak, and enormous levels of tannin, it is neither out of balance nor astringent. It is a concentrated, backward, impeccably balanced St.-Emilion made with an uncompromising view of the craft of winemaking. It displays superb intensity, a fabulous texture, a foreboding, tannic overlay, incredibly ripe, pure fruit, and perfectly aligned acidity and tannin. Forget if for a decade, and consume it between 2020-2040.
Wine Spectator 2007 (85-88 Punkte) Fassprobe
Clean and fruity, but with slightly accentuated acidity. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins. Slightly hollow center palate. Score range: 85-88 –JS
Vinous Stephen Tanzer 2009 (91+ Punkte)
Bright ruby-red. Superripe aromas of blackberry, blueberry, licorice and crushed rock; like a liqueur of botanical herbs. Then dense, sappy and superconcentrated, with a powerful minerality, solid acidity and a note of black pepper perking up the wine's rather clenched core of fruit. Finishes with a boatload of tannins. This almost painfully intense wine, a great success for this chateau, needs up to a decade of cellaring.
