CHÂTEAU MONBOUSQUET

Tiny yields of 31 hectoliters per hectare and a harvest that occurred between September 16-22 resulted in a full-throttle 2011 Monbousquet that hit 13.9% natural alcohol. The final blend was 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. In both blind and non-blind tastings, this wine acquitted itself extremely well, placing well above many wines that cost two to three times the price. The 2011 reveals exotic notes of Asian spices, black fruits, toast, coffee bean and forest floor. Fleshy and medium to full-bodied, it is ideal for drinking over the next 10-12 years. 2012 - 2024 Rating: 91-93 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com (Apr 2012)

There is patently a lot of juicy ripe black fruit on the Monbousquet 2011 with well-integrated oak and a sorbet like freshness. In the background there are touches of exotic aromas such as fig and over-ripe oranges. The palate is grippy and tannic on the entry. This is a more masculine Monbousquet with quite a firm, gritty tannic finish, which might be because of the fog that descended at the moment I tasted the wine. There is just a little dryness on the finish at the moment. Rating: 88-90 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2012)

A much cleaner and more open nose here than some of the other Perse wines, showing a dark and smoky character. But again we have here dried fruits, and a little suggestion of the Douro. Some brown fruit character here too - more raisined than rotten though. The palate is just a sledgehammer of force. It shows a hot character, carried along by over-ripe, raisined and dried fruit. Massive dried tannins complete the picture. Rating: 12-13 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2012)