Michel Bettane: Intense color, curious open nose, but with more than a hint of barnyard aromas (Brett?). Very ripe texture and tannins for the vintage; good length. The pleasure depends on your own taste: If you dislike animal wild flavors, it is not for you! I do not like them even if the finish is very long. 14.5

Thierry Desseauve: Dark and deep color, some animal notes in the nose and in mouth. The flesh is sumptuous, but the tannins show a certain trend toward dryness. Ambitious, deep, and powerful wine, with a hint of Brettanomyces? 16.5

Michael Schuster: Hint of an early bouquet of Merlot “caramel-and-fruitcake.” (A suspected touch of Brettanomyces on the sample tasted at the World of Fine Wine offices, but a bottle tasted a couple of weeks later was perfectly clean.)Very well-balanced, elegant middleweight, with a nice concentration of ripe fruit and excellent texture; a subtle, graceful, complete, and harmonious wine, with very nice aromatic length—beautifully judged winemaking. Superb balance and fine texture will make this accessible early, but it should keep well. 2012–22+. Lovely. 17