Vinous - Score: 92+ (2009 May)

Deep, bright ruby. Flamboyant nose combines liquid graphite, tropical dark chocolate, licorice, violet and roasted oak. Dense and powerful if a bit youthfully musclebound, even monolithic, with superconcentrated dark fruit and chocolate liqueur flavors. This very full wine showed a lusher texture with air, with a total absence of any rough edges. Finishes with big, chewy, spreading tannins that reach the front teeth. A rock-solid and very impressive young Saint-Emilion that needs at least five years to burn off some of its baby fat.