From proprietress Annabelle Cruse-Bardinet, this dense ruby/purple-colored St.-Emilion offers sweet black cherry and cassis fruit, spring flowers and well-integrated oak, acidity and tannin. Medium-bodied, pure and impressively endowed in an elegant yet authoritative style, this sleeper of the vintage should drink well for 5-8 years.

The dark plum and blackberry fruit has a slightly jammy edge, backed by a bit of overtly singed toast on the finish. Slightly clumsy in the end. Drink now through 2016. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 4,580 cases made.