On the one hand fairly polished, but in the other a wine of real richness and considerable weight, Carbonnieux speaks straight to what is best in the vintage and delivers plenty of well-ripened fruit within a balanced, classically claret-like frame. It may finish a bit of the astringent side at the moment, but it never dries out under the weight of its tannin, and its deep, long-lasting flavors show the kind of fruity buoyancy to make six to eight years of cellaring a risk-free proposition.

Moderately saturated medium red. Somewhat shallow aromas of redcurrant, plum and tobacco. Soft, plump flavors of redcurrant, smoke, tobacco and earth are given some shape by firm tannins. Finishes clean and persistent. Not bad, but this bottle is not up to the quality of the barrel sample I tried last spring.

5