A spectacular effort, this blockbuster, in-your-face St.-Emilion boasts a saturated purple color as well as a gorgeous bouquet of framboise liqueur, blackberries, and smoky oak, an unctuous texture, full body, and a seamless finish with low acidity and ripe tannin. This 1998 scores high on both pleasure and cerebral meters. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2014. A garage wine, this 100% Merlot cuvee is produced from a 6.5-acre vineyard. One hundred percent new oak is utilized, and malolactic fermentation occurs in barrel. Approximately 9,000 bottles are produced in an abundant vintage.