From barrel. Deep, dark and rich looking. Aromas of violets and new oak. Really quite balanced - lots of fruit and oak in the flavours. Powerfully structured. Extremely long finish. The wine will remain another 12-14 months barrels.

Also from barrel. Bright ruby, with purple edges. Penetrating aromas - cherry, spices and oak. Crisp acidity - quite perky - with a lot of elegance in style. Much more fruit than La Tache, and less oak. Very long and clean in the finish - doesn't have the power of La Tache. Each aging cellar seems to make a difference, according to the winemaker. The above wines were held in the original 12th Century cellars of the monks of Saint Vivant.

Wine now 2 months in bottle. Quite dark, full appearance. Powerful aromas - layers of fruit and oak. Rich, spicey dark berry fruits over oak - already great harmony - and a very long finish. This wine is most impressive - will continue to improve and be attractive for at least a dozen years. Excellent! This wine typifies the quality we experienced in the 1994's - and they just got better and better as we moved up the scale.

Deep ruby colour - very attractive. The aromas are quite full - plenty of oak showing over the fruit. Extremely rich - full, deep concentrated dark cherry fruit - supple and generous on the palate. Really complex and lovely fruit on the finish. A very fine wine!

Another wine of deep ruby colour. Attractive aromas - some floral overtones above the fruit and oak. Smooth texture - a bit fat in the mouth - good acidity and intense flavours. Long deep finish. Probably 6 years away.

Excellent deep ruby colour. Long and penetrating aromas - berry fruit and cherries with spicey oak. Very fat in the mouth - harmonious blend of acidity and tannins to provide a powerful structure for the concentrated dark cherry and toasty oak flavours. Supple and rich. The finish goes on and on - marvelously rich and intense. This is an outstanding wine - probably should be held for another 8 years.

Great colour again - but a more solid wine than the Richebourg. Aromas a bit subdued - but suggesting spices and dark fruits. Extremely powerful wine, but it is nontheless quite supple on the palate. A real mouthful - fat and intense - with a lot of richness. A bit backward, but showing great potential for the longer term. Everything in place, but it is just awakening.

A much more delicate wine than La Tache. Colour is deep ruby. Quite perfumy on the nose - layers of fruit. Completely balanced.silky smooth on the palate - really complex spice and ripe berry fruit flavours over a lightly toasted oak frame. Long on the finish - a bit sweet-edged. This should be ready ahead of La Tache - lots of class but less powerful. It doesn't get a lot better than this.

Medium dark ruby colour. Mature nose - warm, full sweet fruit and spices. Full, round and rich on the palate - spicey, cherry flavours - should develop further in the bottle. Smokey, oak finish with baked fruit flavours in the finish. Lingers quite long.

Light in colour - floral nose, with some vegetal aromas. Easy on the palate - leathery texture - some finesse - lighter finish.

Light amber colour. Powerful aromas - penetrating spices, no oak to speak of. Tannic structure - very full in the mouth - a spicey sweet finish. Lacks fruit, but has a lot of elegance and finesse. Dry, tannic finish, but it isn't harsh.

Quite young - bright golden colour. Toasty aromas of new bread. Great acidity - hazelnuts and honey in the flavours - a very long and persistent finish. Very powerful wine - still evolving, but still years away. Should be a great wine!