Malescot Saint Exupéry 2007

Elegant notes of Chinese black tea, black currants, licorice, and flowers emerge from this excellent, medium-bodied, supple-textured Margaux. As the wine sat in the glass, a bit of raspy tannins started to push through, which lowered my score a point or two. Drink it over the next 7-8 years. Drink 2010-2018.

Again, this has a distinctive nose, something quite briny suffusing the black, vanillary fruit. Touches of black cherries and briary. The palate is better, good fruit concentration and firm tannins, a little oaky towards the very dry finish. Quite masculine for a Margaux. Rather foursquare and conservative. Tasted April 2008.

Balanced and fruity, with strawberry, tobacco and light chocolate character. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a delicate finish

Rather dull, greyish crimson with light oak on the nose. Quite refreshing with a certain malted milk easy impact. Then pretty green on the finish. Sandpaper tannins. Some decent length. Good life to it. Drink 2012-16

Good dark red-ruby. Pure aromas of dark berries and licorice, with a peppery lift. Sweet and spicy, with very good fruit intensity and a chocolatey impression of ripeness. Finishes with good fruity persistence but not the verve or grip of the best years.

The nose is remarkably scented, very red fruit fresh. This acidity is there at the start of the palate, all quite light, appealingly fragrant. The mix of red and black flavours is in evidence towards the back and does give some complexity, just a slight lack of concentration

Fine purple-red, quite lifted blackcurrant fruit, natural and pure expression, good depth of fruit on palate, not showing much yet, but has good potential. Drink 2013-20. 4 stars.