2013 Richebourg

Saturated, deep red-ruby. Blackberry and cassis aromas are complicated by coffee and a subtle floral character, with some sweet oak adding another dimension. Densely packed and sappy, with an urgent quality and superb lift to the crushed dark berry fruit. A wonderfully saline, soil-driven wine with outstanding inner-mouth tension. The extremely long, slowly mounting finishes features a serious tannic backbone and outstanding vibrancy. Built for a long evolution in bottle.

The 2013 Richebourg Grand Cru has a very expressive bouquet, perhaps more so than the Cros Parantoux at this primordial stage: a mixture of red and black fruit, bay and Earl Grey, later accompanied by rose-petal aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy ripe red berry fruit intermingling with mint and sage, gradually building to a suave, minerally finish. This is an excellent Richebourg for the vintage, although I would be hedging my bets on the Cros Parantoux this year.

The 2013 Richebourg Grand Cru has a very expressive bouquet, perhaps more so than the Cros Parantoux at this primordial stage: a mixture of red and black fruit, bay and Earl Grey, later accompanied by rose-petal aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy ripe red berry fruit intermingling with mint and sage, gradually building to a suave, minerally finish. This is an excellent Richebourg for the vintage, although I would be hedging my bets on the Cros Parantoux this year. Dec 2014, www.robertparker.com