2008 Croix de Labrie

(14.5% alcohol): Bright, full ruby-red. Aromas of black raspberry, mocha, licorice and crushed stone, with a violet note emerging in the glass. Dense, sweet and deep, with a superripe suggestion of beefsteak tomato leavened by underlying minerality. Finishes very long and sweet, with serious but nicely buffered tannins. Offers a lovely combination of seamless dark fruit flavors and nicely integrated acidity. A very impressive vintage for this wine.

This gorgeous, sexy, opaque plum/purple-hued 2008 exhibits notes of mocha, blackberries, black raspberries, chocolate and barbecue smoke. Thick, unctuously textured and juicy, it is a flamboyantly styled effort meant to be consumed in its first 10-12 years of life. Don’t miss it!