Candied cherry, pipe tobacco, cocoa, salted taffee. Warming alcohol, mineral, a hint of naptha, dried ripe fruit, vanilla and oak. Butter in the lingering finish. Bright acid and firm tannin. Tasted Feb. 2016

Very complex, well developed bouquet: cassis, prune, blackberry, tobacco, eucalyptus, vanilla, cedar, old leather, forest floor, and cocoa. After getting some air it offered touches of violet, burnt sugar, and roasted bell pepper. Repeats on the palate, but with some black pepper and the fruit leaning more toward dark cherry. Quite full-bodied and structured, with medium-high acidity and tannins, but at this point very supple and well-integrated. Excellent length, finishing with dried black fruit, cocoa, and black pepper.

As much as a blend of French varietals, this is a tightrope blend of two distinct French styles -- elegant, Cab-based Bordeaux meeting rustic, Syrah-based Midi -- and in that blend it achieves remarkable balance and complexity. Cassis, blackberry, raspberry, tobacco, graphite, smoke, black pepper, roast meat, the notes are many, and each sip brings new rewards, supported by impressive structure and enlivening acidity, the intensity building throughout. Depth and length are impressive too, with loads of potential development even six years on. It surpasses even the impressive sum of its parts.

Semi opaque with a ruby red centre and a hint of garnet starting to appear at the edges. A quality assemblage here. Red fruit, cassis, spice, herbal notes, cedar, tobacco, mocha, vanilla. Oak is definitely present, but judiciously so, and the high 14.5% ABV is noticeable but well integrated and not too hot. Good concentration, fine tannin and medium plus acidity provide structure and some ageing ability. Excellent length. Remarkable quality given the affordable price. Nov. 2015.

Beautiful, 2 hr decant and it was singing in the glass

A concentrated Rhone+Bordeaux blend, at a fine stage of drinking. Fruit is ripe and complex without being overripe. A sheen of vanilla and mocha complete the picture. Therein lies my only, admittedly, small complaint: The oak s just a bit too prominent for me tastes. That said, this is most definitely not overoaked, that is just my personal preference. Tasted Jan 2016.

Tight tannins, complex flavours, however I found the acid too high, so a tad off balance in my opinion. Acidheads will rejoice.