One of the cru bourgeois estates in the empire of Bernard Magrez, this may possibly be the best wine Les Grands Chenes has yet made. From old vines (average age 45) in the very northern part of the Medoc, the final blend of 51% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc hit 14% natural alcohol. The wine displays loads of espresso roast, black chocolate, creme de cassis, forest floor and tobacco leaf in a full-bodied, opulent, and flamboyant style. Dense, rich and deep in fruit, it exhibits the plush, silky tannins that are a signature of Michel Rolland, the overall consultant for all of the Magrez estates. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.
90 Points, The Wine Advocate (2012)
Black cherry, espresso, sanguine and anise flavors mingle in this chewy red, which has a dark, brooding character enlivened by fresh acidity. Assertive tannins take over on the finish. Best from 2013 through 2020.
89 Points, Wine Spectator (2012)
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