2004 Cambon la Pelouse (Haut Medoc)

Medium ruby-red. Blackberry, violet and flowers on the perfumed nose. Sweet and chewy, with flavors of black cherry, dark chocolate and mint complicated by minerals and spices. The tannins are a bit hard-edged, but there's good supporting depth of flavor here. This has evolved nicely in bottle, but the '05 is broader and sweeter.

Medium ruby. Crystallized black raspberry and licorice on the slightly reduced nose. Offers good texture and density, but comes across as quite cool and dry, even austere. This boasts very good mouth coverage but seems quite tannic today.

Deep purple. quite a glow. Fresh, vital, pretty punchy but a bit light. Good balance in savoury left bank style. But this is a desperately polite wine. (JR)