1 | Wine | France, 86 or higher, 1.5 L

"The minerally undertow imparts a subtle, smoky note that blends with flavors of dried pineapple, biscuit, salted almond and white peach. A balanced version, with a fine bead and well-honed acidity."

"The grand vin is the result of an increasingly strict selection process, with approximately 50% of the production going into the final wine and the balance used in the Croix de Beaucaillou. The 2009 may be the finest example of this cuvee I have yet tasted. Up-front, precocious and generous, it possesses a dense purple color, a big, broad, unctuous texture and abundant notes of creme de cassis and black cherry fruit intertwined with hints of wood smoke, vanillin and earth. This nearly viscous-styled wine can be drunk in 2-3 years or cellared for 15+."-Robert Parker

"The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape is both a strong effort and a terrific value. Its dark ruby/purple color is followed by lots of loamy soil, underbrush, forest floor, kirsch, licorice and roasted meat characteristics. Full-bodied and layered, the wine builds incrementally in the mouth exhibiting considerable purity, length and texture. It should drink nicely for 10-15 years." -Robert Parker

"Full-bodied in texture, it offers up loads of blueberry, blackberry and raspberry fruit intermixed with some cedar, vanilla and a touch of spring flowers. Impressively built, with good acidity and light tannin, this is a superb example of wine that reaches its prime in 3 or 4 years and lasts two decades. It’s right up there with their brilliant 2005." -Robert Parker

"This dense purple wine displays notes of charcoal, subtle toast and white chocolate as well as blueberry and blackberry liqueur intermixed with hints of graphite and licorice. Dense, full-bodied, unctuously textured, and quite long and thick, this concentrated, impressively endowed wine is silky-textured and already accessible. However, I suspect its best days are at least 5-7 years ahead of it. It should keep for a minimum of two decades."-Robert Parker

"This stunning effort is a wine to buy by the case. Its opaque ruby/purple color is followed by aromas of graphite, barbecue smoke, blackberries and black currants. The full-bodied, textured 2008 Saint-Pierre reveals a skyscraper-like mouthfeel along with tremendous viscosity and unctuosity. One of the richest and potentially longest-lived 2008s, it is a fabulous sleeper of the vintage. Drink it over the next 20+ years." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Classic tobacco leaf and smoky barbecue notes along with rich black currants and crushed rocks in a medium to full-bodied, seductive, attractively up-front style. Some Asian plum sauce is also noticeable in this complex, evolved and delicious wine, which can be drunk over the next 10-15 years. It is a sleeper of the vintage."

"A classic Pauillac as well as a sleeper of the vintage, the 2008 is even better from bottle than I predicted from cask. It boasts a dense purple color along with an impressive display of black currants, licorice, forest floor and graphite, medium to full body, a hefty personality, plenty of pure, sweet fruit, an enticing texture and a long finish with supple tannins. It is ideal for drinking now and over the next 15+ years." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"A perfumed bouquet of flowers, jammy cassis, sweet oak, and truffles jumps from the glass of this ripe, classic, mid-weight claret. The wine is elegant rather than powerful. It possesses intense fruit, admirable ripeness as well as balance, and a long finish." Reviewed by Robert Parker.