73% merlot 23% cabernet franc and 4% cabernet sauvignon. 6.5-hectare vineyard on the limestone plateau of Saint Emilion planted to cines an average of 38 years old. Yields were only 21 hls/ha. Aging in 65% new and 35% one-wine-old French oak. 15% alcohol. Very intensely colored the aromas here are a bit high toned with notes of caraway seeds and tarragon. Late malos makes this a difficult sample to taste so we'll reserve some judgment but it certainly has fine potential. Jean-Philippe Fort consults. Tasted at Joanne will sample again soon.

From an assemblage of 70% Merlot 25% Cabernet Franc with the remainder split evenly between Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot this lovely wine opens with a perfume of crushed stone licorice jammy black plums and floral scents. Soft and opulently textured this fresh sweet ripe St. Emilion wine ends with a mouthful of anise minerality red and black fruits.

2010: Tiny yields of 21 hectoliters per hectare produced a wine with 15% natural alcohol. The final blend was 73% Merlot 23% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. Quite backward as if malolactic fermentation had just finished this opaque purple-hued large-scaled massive effort reveals high tannins high extraction and huge concentration. Everything is present but this wine looks set for a long life and will not be as sumptuous or opulent in its youth as the 2009 or 2008. Forget it for 5-8 years and drink it over the following three decades.