The 2004 Petit Verdot (100%) was aged for 24 months in new French oak. Aromas of pain grille, pencil lead, spice box, violets, blackberry, and black currant leap from the glass. On the palate, notes of coffee, preserved fruit, and chocolate make an appearance. Ripe, layered, and firmly structured, this impressive effort will develop for 4-6 years in the bottle and drink well through 2030.Importer: Kobrand Corporation, New York, NY; tel. (212) 490-9300

Ruby-red. Deep and smoky, with powerful aromas of red and dark berries, kirsch, vanilla and cigar box. Fleshy and sweet, displaying an exotic oak-spiced array of red and dark fruits underscored by graphite, cured meat and espresso. Solid and broad-shouldered on the long, youthfully tannic finish. Serious stuff, in need of a few years' patience.