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 Enthusiast: Dark, dusty, hugely structured, Haut-Brion is a complex, serious wine with grandeur. The wine has considerable weight, its tannins striated through the black plum and damson s...

Wine Spectator: Tangy and lightly firm, with cherry pit, pomegranate and blackberry notes, followed by sage and tobacco. There's nice focus, with a tarry hint for added length on the finish. ...

Wine Enthusiast: The wine has some weight and an attractive meat and smoke character to go with the black berry fruits. Well balanced, shot through with acidity. R.V.

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: (69% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot and 3% cabernet franc) Medium-deep red. Inviting, deep aromas of blackcurrant and ripe plum, with a hint of licorice. Very appealing sweet ...

Jancis Robinson: Dark purple. Aromatic. Sweet start, rather flattering. Mouthfilling with a hint of spearmint. Fresh and rather appealing.

Wine Spectator: Racy blackberry and graphite notes are framed by light toast and mineral in this vibrant, expressive red. The ripe tannins are well-integrated and give backbone to the plush t...

Wine Spectator: Lilac, tar and cassis bush aromas are followed by a broad swath of mulled plum, black currant and maduro tobacco. The strong, mineral- and tar-filled spine drives through the ...

Wine Spectator: Quite juicy, with a mouthwatering edge to the damson plum, mulled cherry and red currant fruit. Modest acidity, fine-grained tannins and flashy spice and iron notes drive the ...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The 2008 La Confession is a sleeper of the vintage. Super successful, this spicy wine exhibits some toasty oak and loads of licorice, espresso roast, blackberry and cassis. A ...

Wine Spectator: A plump, fleshy style, with loganberry, blueberry and plum fruit kissed by sweet spice and judicious toast notes on the medium-weight finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink ...

Wine Spectator: This bold red delivers big, ripe flavors of blackberry and boysenberry, with licorice, tobacco and dark chocolate notes. The tannins are muscular and chewy, but give way to fl...

Wine Spectator: Ripe, juicy and flattering, with delicious linzer torte, boysenberry and blackberry compote aromas and flavors, supported by solid grip and nice lingering anise and espresso o...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: This could turn out to be the finest La Fleur de Gay since the incredible duo of 1989 and 1990. Made from 35-year-old Merlot vines planted on the plateau of Pomerol, sandwiche...

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: This has a density that sets it apart, with a pleasantly firm edge to the plum, black cherry and currant fruit, all wrapped with notes of iron, tobacco and savory herb. Th...

Wine Spectator: This delivers a winey core of crushed currant, melted black licorice, plum sauce and roasted vanilla flavors, all woven to- gether with solid grip on the full-bodied finish...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Bright medium ruby. Exotic, high-toned aromas of blueberry liqueur, fruitcake and bitter chocolate. Creamy-sweet and opulent, with superconcentrated dark berry and dark choc...

Wine Spectator: A touch soft, but persistent, with pretty floral, mulled plum and tobacco notes that glide over light, rounded tannins. The pure finish lets the fruit hang elegantly. This win...

Wine Spectator: Quite ripe, with a jammy edge to the plum, raspberry and cherry compote notes, laced with red licorice and spice on the finish. Drink now through 2014. -JM