This cuts a broad swath, with prominent notes of espresso and ganache leading to the core of crushed plum and blackberry confiture. Lush, with the ganache edge joining a loamy hint to underscore the finish. Consistent with the barrel tasting, this shows more breadth than cut in the end. (JM)

(60% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot; 32 hectoliters per hectare): Deep, opaque ruby. Rich aromas of blackberry, black cherry and minerals are lifted by a perfumed minty note. Multilayered and vibrant, with compelling sweetness of black fruit cocktail, spicy vanilla and mineral flavors. Finishes with very smooth tannins, a persistent violet note and an impression of weightlessness. I love this wine's purity, but I don't know if my sample had any press wine in it.

A wine with lots of ripe berries, verging on dried fruits. Full and chewy with ripe, round, chewy tannins. It needs lots of bottle age. A wine of steel.

Deep garnet in color, the 2011 Pontet-Canet comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant notes of redcurrant jelly, warm cassis and blackberry pie plus touches of dried mint, mocha, smoked meats and yeast extract with a waft of pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has bags of energy with lively red and black fruits and compelling mineral accents, finishing long with a provocative lift.