96 / 100 Robert Parker Very deep garnet-purple colour. A wonderfully perfumed nose of violets, crushed blackberries, black cherries, mace and cloves leading into some smoked meat and mocha aromas with swirling. Very structured on the palate with high acidity, a medium to high level of fine tannins and a full body providing plenty of flesh in the mid-palate. Very long layered finish. In Asia May 2010
86 / 100 Wine Spectator A tight, reined-in style, with dry herb, cedar, dried currant, sage and mineral notes. Full-bodied, ending with a trim, tannic finish that suggests short-term cellaring. The best of two bottles tasted. Best from 2011 through 2015. 6,000 cases made. http://www.winespectator.com/wine/detail/source/search/not..
17.5 / 20 Jancis Robinson Christian Moueix insisted on this vintage because it's a personal favourite that he thinks is underestimated generally. At the very last minute, two months before bottling in early summer, and technically a mistake, he took the risk of adding press wine (which one shouldn't really do). So the wine was very tough for the first two years and it got bad scores. For that reason he was not allowed to pour it at The Wine Experience tonight! (not scored in the 90s).
Very deep crimson and extremely intense, exciting, vibrant nose. Very dry finish but with lots of tannin and great mouth presence and grip. True savour. Tense and much drier than most Napa Cabernets. Glossy and seductive though with a heavy tannic charge. http://www.jancisrobinson.com/tastings/search?perpage=20&c..
