About this Wine: Purchased in 1998 from the daughter of the local blacksmith - hence the name - the initial vineyard was primarily based on a gravel outcrop, assembled over the generations wit...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: This blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc coming in at 13.5% natural alcohol exhibits notes of blueberry pie intermixed with chalk dust, as well as hints of subtle oak, ...

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 ...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The 2008, which was problematic from barrel tastings, has settled down beautifully, and showed very well on three separate occasions. Proprietor Michel Bortolussi has turned o...

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...

About this Wine: This single-vineyard of three hectares is situated next to Château Angelus and represents the highest manifestation of Cabernet Franc in a wine of this level from Bordeaux. Se...

Wine Spectator: Broad and fleshy, exhibiting lots of melted fig, black currant paste and graphite notes woven with maduro tobacco and bittersweet cocoa. There's a long, smoldering finish. Bes...

Wine Enthusiast: Barrel sample. Spicy, initially this wine seems to have too much wood. But in the end, the dense fruit tannins come through to dominate, giving a bright final character. R.V. ...

Wine Enthusiast: Big and structured wine, with ripe jammy fruit. Rich spice, soft tannins and dense texture all come together to give a rounded feel. Acidity at the end makes a final, tight ...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: (a 65/35 blend of merlot and cabernet franc): Bright medium ruby. Blackberry, cassis, bitter chocolate and espresso on the nose, with cabernet franc notes of violet and lico...

About this Wine: Geographic location :...

Wine Spectator: Nice cocoa and coffee aromas lead the way for roasted vanilla bean, dark plum and black cherry fruit notes. This is a touch firm, but racy and fleshy enough through the finish...

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...

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...

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

Wine Spectator: This is inviting, with delicious raspberry ganache, cherry reduction and sweet spice notes all pushed by racy licorice and toast. The slightly firm, muscular finish should str...

About this Wine: Land: A plateau of limestone; bordering slopes with chalk and clay soils....

Wine Spectator: This is lavishly oaked, with dark espresso, mocha and bittersweet cocoa notes proudly leading the way, while the core of fig sauce, melted licorice snap and blackberry confitu...

Wine Spectator: Very fleshy, with lush, velvety-textured plum sauce, currant paste and melted licorice notes, woven with toasty spice and backed by a dark chocolate bark note on the finish. B...