A magnificent offering, the 2002 Domaine de St.-Augustin, an Algerian blend of low yielding, old vine Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan, exhibits a dense plum/ruby color as well as a sumptuous perfume of blackberries, cassis, melted licorice, asphalt, and smoke. Spicy, fleshy, and luxurious on the palate, with ripe fruit, low acidity, and a heady finish revealing elevated glycerin, this is a decadently hedonistic effort to drink over the next 4-6 years. Sadly, at this time there is no American importer for this wine, although Bernard Magrez's international connections should ensure that these cuvees end up in the better restaurants and wine shops of not only France, but Western Europe. Hopefully, an innovative American importer will see fit to give American consumers access to these intriguing efforts.This wine will appear under the name Gerard Depardieu. Quantities for his wines range from 400-600 cases, and the debut vintage (2002) will hit the marketplace in fall, 2004.