1 | Wine | Pessac-leognan / Graves, $20 to $50, 2008

"This has a slightly sweet core of plum, cherry and raspberry, with hints of lilac, tar and warm stone. There's a somewhat sinewy feel on the finish, as a sanguine edge emerges."

"Another sleeper of the vintage. ...the relatively evolved, elegant, complex 2008 Haut-Bergey offers up notes of smoked tobacco, cassis, cherries, licorice, Asian plum sauce and spice box. With abundant fruit, an opulent texture and an elegant style, this pretty, medium-bodied, richly fruity wine should drink well for 12-14 years." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"A sleeper of the vintage and better than its 2010 sibling. ...the plum/garnet-hued 2008 possesses a smoky barbecue, charcoal/burning ember character intermixed with ripe, sweet cherry and black currant fruit. Medium-bodied and beautifully concentrated with silky tannins as well as a long finish, it can be enjoyed over the next 10-15 years." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"One of the most successful wines of the vintage. ...this blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot achieved 13.5% natural alcohol. It exhibits a deep ruby/purple color along with sweet notes of creosote, graphite, lead pencil shavings, black currants, plums and licorice. Medium to full-bodied and silky with good underlying acidity, it is a juicy, savory, quintessentially elegant wine that will benefit from several years of cellaring and last for 15+ years." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Nicely polished for the vintage. ...showing a plush feel to the fig paste, currant preserve and blackberry notes, which are pushed through the finish by a slightly firm tarry edge that keeps this honest."