Creamy fruit on the opening, as with the 2003, accompanied by well structured tannins that take a little time to open up. This has plenty of depth and smoked spice, with chalky tannins, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, grilled caramel, dark fruits with luscious cherries heading towards crème de cassis, extraction pushed just a little too hard. This is fleshy, impressive. Harvest September 18 to October 5, unfined, light filtration. 100% new oak for ageing. 82ha in production. 58hl/h yield. Michel-Bernard Couasnon consultant.

This uncompromising property has turned out a backward forbiddingly tannic wine that even in this very opulent and flamboyant vintage will need a minimum of 10-15 years of cellaring yet keep for 40 or more years. Opaque black/purple with notes of crushed rock white flowers graphite blueberry and cassis the wine is tight and needs to be coaxed from the glass. It is medium to full-bodied with an excruciatingly tough-textured finish. Everything is here and the wine is set for a long life but it is not the least bit charming and certainly won't be for at least another decade.