Michael Schuster: Sweetly ripe nose; rich, elegant, beautifully balanced mid­dleweight with a firm, fine-textured tannin; ripe, cassis Cabernet flavor, close knit, prolonged, subtly minerally with excellent length. Archetypal civilized, classy claret; the perfect, complete expression of St-Julien. (I find this a more agreeable style of St-Julien than Las-Cases.) 17

Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve: A welcome return to the great classical Beauchaillo u style, with its precision and aromatic distinction, familiar tones of cedar and sweet spice, tight, imposing body and majestic tannins. Bruno Borie's first vintage cuvee is a stunning success. 18