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...

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 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: 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.

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...

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: 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.

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, ...

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: The bramble and spice elements are balanced and fresh in this muscular, juicy red from the south of France. Displays hints of black olive to the dried blackberry and plum comp...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Light, bright red. Red berry and floral scents are complemented by cinnamon and black tea. Racy and light on its feet, offering vibrant redcurrant and strawberry flavors and...

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.