The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, linear but fresh with a grippy, slightly tarry finish that lingers in the mouth. It needs to find a little more lightness in terms of personality rather than intensity, perhaps not take itself quite so seriously. But I still find much to enjoy here and I look forward to tasting it in bottle. Tasted twice with consistent notes.

A bit bulked-up in feel, with a warm cocoa frame around plum skin and warm currant confiture notes. More breadth than depth.—J.M.

Couleur sombre et noire. Nez moyennement aromatique, fruité, crémeux et truffé. Bouche fruitée, au corps moelleux, évoluant un peu tendre, mais savoureuse, sur une longueur moyenne.

Here we are with Bernard Magrez, and his are big, structured, powerful wines. Extremely clear coffee toast on the nose, with deep black fruits and cinnamon and clove spicing through the palate. There is no questioning the quality of the black cherry and cassis fruit, liquorice and slate, but it needs to breathe. Planted to 89% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Sehr dunkles, fast schwarzes Purpur mit violetten Reflexen. Sattes Cassisbouquet, dahinter Lakritze, Brombeerblüten und Earl Grey-Noten. Beeindruckender, stoffiger Gaumen mit schwarzbeerigen Konturen sowie Schokopastillen, Piemontkirsche und Schlehensaft im langen, aromatischen Finale. Am Limit vinifiziert.