Stephen Tanzer's IWC: (merlot with some cabernet franc): Bright ruby-red. Lively, slightly medicinal aromas of cassis, blackberry, licorice and flowers. Supple, sweet and nicely concentrated, wi...

Wine Spectator: This has good flesh, with a lilac note giving way to dark mulled plum and linzer torte flavors, studded with black tea and roasted spice hints. Shows nice drive on the finish....

Wine Spectator: Pretty Cabernet Franc aromas of crushed berries and some milk chocolate. Medium- to full-bodied, with soft and silky tannins. Long sweet fruit on the finish. -JS

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...

Jancis Robinson: Very dark. Rather glamorous and glossy on the nose. Sweet start and very polished - verging on too black fruited but it keeps itself fun to drink - just a more opulent side ...

Wine Enthusiast: A consistent performer, Yalumba's Hand Picked Shiraz-Viognier seems slightly bigger and chunkier in 2008 than in the past, with bold fruit-blueberries and blackberries-accente...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: This big time sleeper of the vintage is a blend of 50% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. An outstanding effort, it boasts a dense ...

Wine Spectator: Candied cherry and milk chocolate mark this round, creamy red. This is well-structured, with some astringent tannins capping the finish. Should come around soon. Drink now thr...

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 Spectator: This has good depth and polish, with pure, ripe blackberry and black currant fruit laced with roasted tobacco leaf, bay and iron notes. Shows solid grip through the finish.-J....

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: Recently acquired by the owners of La Fleur Cardinale, Dominique and Florence Decoster, this is a 19-acre estate located in the sector of St.-Emilion known as St.-Etienne de L...

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.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The 2008 Martinet Bru is a bit more forward and elegant. It can be approached now but will benefit from another 2-3 years of cellaring. Mas Martinet is owned by Jose Luis P...

Wine Spectator: Vibrant, with a racy, well-stitched core of damson plum, raspberry and blackberry fruit supported by fruitcake and graphite notes. Displays range and energy. Solid. — J.M.

Wine Spectator: Fleshy and inviting, with a juicy core of bramble, raspberry and plum backed by cassis bush, clove and mesquite notes. Features a fine-grained finish, with the fruit and wood ...

Wine Spectator: Offers meaty aromatics, with dense, chewy and juicy currant and plum fruit flavors sliding into a relatively gentle finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, ...