Deep ruby. Heady with ripe black fruit and spring flowers scenting the nose plus loam limestone and light mocha notes. The medium to full-bodied palate is rife with blackberry and black plum flavors expressing an earthy minerality reminicent of Pomerol. A small grip of round broad-shouldered tannins focuses the fruit with the finish lingering for half a minute on this palate pleaser from the Right Bank.

The basic cuvee the 2009 Arnauton is 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. It exhibits loads of crushed chalky minerality some jammy berry fruit good glycerin medium body and a clean fresh lively finish. It is a little less complex than I'd hoped but still a fine effort. Fronsac of course is a treasure trove for excellent wines at realistic prices and Arnauton is a good-sized 62-acre property on the south-facing hillsides in the eastern part of the actual appellation. They make two cuvees.