Stephen Tanzer's IWC: (a 50/50 mix of cabernet sauvignon and merlot): Bright, deep ruby-red. Lovely lift to the aromas of currant, flowers and smoked meat. The palate boasts the silky texture of...

Wine Spectator: Good, pure, caressing style, with a direct beam of cassis, lilac and toasted spice that stays rounded through the medium-weight finish, where a hint of loam peeks in. -J.M.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: This nearly 12-acre parcel on sandy, gravelly soils is planted with 100% Merlot. Made by proprietor Denis Baraud, the 2003 is a surprisingly strong effort from a soil type tha...

About this Wine: "The majestic Comtesse de Lalande (second Grand Cru Classé at Pauillac) brought into the world a wonderful wine called « La Réserve ». Particularly fine and elegant, this is o...

About this Wine: This wine will require 7-10 years of cellaring, then last for two decades thereafter.

Wine Spectator: Nicely focused, with dark plum, black currant and steeped black cherry fruit melded with charcoal, black tea and mocha. The long finish is plush in feel, but stays restrained....

Wine Spectator: Very solid, with a graphite spine that drives through the core of dark plum, currant and blackberry fruit. The finish lets the anise and violet notes play out, retaining some ...

Wine Spectator: This sports a very ripe, focused beam of linzer torte and cassis notes, with dark toasted anise, violet and fruitcake showing up on the finish. Fairly extracted, but with the ...

Wine Spectator: Creamy and inviting, featuring freshly picked plum and blackberry notes gilded with floral, bergamot and light vanilla shadings. Picks up a lightly firm dusting on the finish,...

Wine Spectator: This has a wonderful nose, with blackberry, licorice, Indian tea and light toasty oak. Full-bodied, with silky, integrated tannins and a long, caressing finish. A pretty, eleg...

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 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 Spectator: This has suave toast, mulled spice, roasted fig and crushed plum and blackberry flavors, all gliding along with silky structure through the finish. Drink now through 2018. –J...

Wine Spectator: Very ripe fruit on the nose, with hints of tobacco and cedar. Full-bodied, with big, chewy tannins, yet soft and luscious...

Wine Spectator: Fantastic aromas of berry, chocolate and cherry. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, long finish. Very well done. A château on the rise. Best after 2006. 9,580 cases m...

Wine Spectator: Aromas of mineral, berries and green coffee bean. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and an impressive fruit finish. A little more in the center palate would make this outstandin...

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...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Ruby-red. Perfumed aromas of blueberry and violet. Suave and fine-grained but not overly sweet. Finishes with smooth tannins and a smoky quality. 87-89 points

Wine Spectator: Quite toasty, with lots of coffee and warm cocoa notes, followed by mulled fig, plum and black currant fruit and a healthy dose of maduro tobacco on the broad, fleshy finish. ...

Wine Spectator: Aromas of jam, berry and cherry follow through to a full-bodied palate, with fine yet round tannins and a long chocolate and berry aftertaste. Loads of sweet fruit here. Excit...