2010 Malescot St Exupery

Enjoyable, richly textured, this is open and at the start of its drinking window, attractive depth through the mid palate, a little overly smoked that threatens the balance on the finish, but there is a lot to enjoy here with graphite, crayon and liquorice root set against damson fruits - and the rich texture that comes into focus after a good 30 minutes in the glass suggests that it will develop further over the next decade or so. 80% new oak.

Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Malescot St. Exupery wafts gracefully out of the glass with scents of potpourri, raspberry coulis and kirsch over a cassis and warm plums core with a touch of pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with juicy red and black fruits, sporting a firm, fine-grained texture and oodles of freshness. It has a good, long and remarkably pure finish.