Popped and poured slightly acetic with a touch of anchovy, good sappy, pine resiny fruit underneath with smoke, loam and underbrush, very pinot like nose, little candied angelica root and licorice with a top note of espresso foam. Good balance of Tannin and fruits, leaning towards dried fruits with some tougher, drying tannins carrying through the back end to finish. Finishes medium long with citrussy, orange peel notes, rosehips, strawberry jam, and ash. Has some minty notes, the tannins have a very slight green, unripe edge to them and the wine has a hot vintage feel with slightly elevated alcohol. Nose turns quite herby with green ivy notes and a surprising base of caramelly butterscotch. The palate integrates somewhat but the fruit seems to be going into hiding leaving good acidty and those slightly green tannins behind. Finish lengthens and adds some tarry menthol and strawberry sed but remains a touch course. This needs some time to integrate and recover from the receding fruit. Probably best to try it again 2012-2020

This has a big, spicy, sappy nose with notes of integrated oak and very ripe red fruits featuring a touch of sur-maturitie. Notes of menthol, pine resin and a deep rose toned floral aspect add to the nose in time. Just more than medium bodied with a sweetly fruited entry of slightly confected red fruits this retains juicy acidity and is moderately tannic though the tannins are a touch bitter. Well balanced with strong strawberry fruit and nuances of oaky spice and cocoa adding some complexity to the medium length finish.

Dark, dank nose opens with tons of used coffee grind, some dried chili, fire pit and caramel nuances. With air aids some thyme like herb but remains coffee dominated. Full bodied in the mouth with lowish acidity and tons of tannin at first. The core of cherry fruit eventually asserts itself and comes to dominate the midpalate though with a slight medicinal edge that carries through to the shortish finish which also features notes of ginger and red floral tones. Lots of extract and somewhat drying this does have rich red cherry fruit but the package is not what I look for in Bordeaux. 90/100

This is relatively open with a nose of subtle toasty oak, crushed vitamin minerality, red fruits and a floral top note. With air this becomes sweetly jammy with a savory overlay of vanilla, olive, roast meat, and gravel. Medium bodied and just a touch rigid at first this remains focused with lots of soft tannins adding a chewiness and good purity of slightly jammy cassis fruit filling the midpalate. The finish is moderately tannic with subtle leather and herb notes contributing a slight rusticity to the package but it is satisfyingly complex and muscularly sinewy.

This is subtle yet nuanced with layers on the nose revealing notes of creosote, scorched earth, bitter cocoa, cassi, herb, and vanilla. In the mouth medium full yet with excellent balance and a real sense of elegance. The structure is very well integrated leaving a seamless mouthfeel to the core of cassis/boysenberry fruit that is wrapped around the very refined tannins. The finish is long and features a gentle balance of fruit, spice, and mineral notes that end on a note of pencil lead. More Margaux than St. Julien this is refined and appealing and will be ready sooner than many 2005’s

Opening fairly toasty with a bit of green herb and bell pepper right up front before settling into a slightly roasted, tarry blackberry vein with notes of vanilla, buttery oak, and fudge under the roasted meat and herb notes. This is fairly full bodied with a big pop of sweet fruit on the attack. Opulent and round with blackberry and cassis fruit and quite some tannins as well as balancing acidity. The finish reveals a bit of earth and licorice as well as black spice and cigar ash before a final note of toasty oak. The oak is a bit more than I would like but the fruit should support it well.

Opening with a bit of old school funk this offers up smoky, tobacco note and hints fo iron rich clay. With time the nose morphs into a lovely, deeply earthy balance of cassis, cigar box, subtle spicy oak and a touch of musk. Integrated and well knit in the mouth with substantial tannins and solid acidity supporting sweet, plummy fruit with a touch of astringent strawberry seeds. Nice notes of earth and mineral permeate the finish which is long and ends with a finale of mint. Pretty packed and tannic but with a good balance of power and refinement. This grew on me over the course of the 6 hours it was sampled and I am a buyer.