Wine Spectator: This has an old-school twinge, with bay leaf and alder notes leading the way for cassis bush, blackberry and tobacco flavors. There's lightly edgy grip, but this doesn't reall...

Wine Spectator: A good, winey core of cassis and blackberry is framed by a noticeable plum skin edge that is in turn offset by polished toast. Modern and direct in style.-J.M.

Wine Enthusiast: A terrific value in Barossa Shiraz, Langmeil's 2008 Valley Floor bottling features bold oak-fruit styling without ever seeming jammy. It's full bodied but not unstructured, wi...

Wine Spectator: A forward style, with dark cassis, blackberry and black cherry notes spiked with a hint of damson plum. Long and velvety through the finish, with hints of black tea and tobacc...

Wine Spectator: Bright, ripe and forward, with very friendly raspberry, cherry preserves and cassis fruit flavors that glide along polished tannins. Shows solid concentration, but approachabl...

Wine Spectator: This lush, expressive red is rich with ripe fruit flavors of blackberry and cassis, framed with coffee bean and dark chocolate. The tannins are firm but well-integrated, and j...

Wine Spectator: Firm, slightly dusty-edged plum and cassis fruit here, with a good sappy feel on the finish. Underlying tarry edge. Solid, if a bit reticent today.-J.M.

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Deep inky ruby. Pure, refined aromas of fresh blackcurrant, minerals, violet and coffee liqueur. Then pure and suave in the mouth, with excellent density to the blackberry and...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: This superb estate, run by Sophie Porquet with consulting from Michel Rollandâ_Ts top assistant, Jean-Philippe Fort, produces...

Wine Spectator: Dark in profile and rather stolid, with a beam of currant, plum and fig allied to a prominent iron shaft that clamps down on the charcoal-textured finish. Showing rather auste...

Wine Spectator: This is saturated, with braised fig, melted black licorice and freshly brewed espresso notes forming the core, with bittersweet ganache, mesquite and iron notes weaving throug...

Rhone Report, The: A rich, substantial, and serious red, the 2009 Michel Gassier Costières-de-Nîmes Lou Coucardie is a blend of 60% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, and 10% Syrah that was aged for close...

Wine Spectator: Very nicely defined, with mouthwatering acidity driving the anise, plum sauce and bitter cherry flavors, while dark tobacco, bay and olive notes flitter through the background...

Wine Spectator: An extrovert, with enticing plum, anise and blackberry fruit and a long, supple finish. There's plenty of stuffing and grip, but this is velvety and nicely assimilated, with p...

Wine Spectator: Dark and nicely packed, with lots of crushed fig, boysenberry and cassis notes. Shows some solid depth on the finish, with ample but velvety tannins and a dark spice element. ...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: Clos Manou, a well-run estate in the northern Medoc, has fashioned a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot that achieved 13.5% natural alcohol...

Wine Spectator: Solid, with a very juicy core of lightly mulled plum and blackberry fruit, a polished apple wood note that runs along the edges and a solid, gravel-tinged finish. Sports nice ...

Wine Spectator: Dense but caressing, with polished black currant, cassis and pastis notes that flow along, while tobacco, tar and violet notes chime in throughout. The long, sleek finish has ...

Bob Campbell, MW: Dense, bright and vibrant wine with cassis, plum and black cherry flavours. Quite oaky but long and with good layering on the finish.

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Bright ruby. Fresh raspberry and cherry on the nose, with sexy Asian spice and rose notes adding complexity. Lively and deep, offering sweet red berry and bitter cherry flav...