94/96

Stephen Tanzer

Vinous

Saturated deep ruby. Knockout vibrant nose of roasted blackberry, dark chocolate and espresso. Great concentration and sappy brightness in the mouth; the dark fruit and torrefaction flavors are almost confectionary yet retain great verve thanks to brilliant acidity. A monumental Pomerol with extraordinary seve. Finishes with toothcoating but thoroughly ripe tannins and great grip. As ripe and rich as this is, the 3.65 pH is not particularly high for Pomerol. Will be a cellar treasure.

94

Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

This wine has been so impressive over the last decade that it can now be said to rival Petrus. This effort should turn out to be one of the longest-lived Pomerols of the vintage. It is backward, and has closed down since bottling, but make no mistake about it ... this is a dazzling, serious vin de garde. An opaque purple color is followed by a restrained but promising bouquet of sweet black raspberries intermixed with vanillin, caramel, and minerals. The wine is full-bodied, powerfully tannic, beautifully textured, and crammed with extract (an assortment of black fruits). While it is bursting at the seams, purchasers will need to wait a minimum of 7-8 years. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2035.