Nicely focused, featuring cherry, blood orange and currant fruit flavors laced together, backed by singed apple wood and tobacco notes, with a lingering olive hint. Solid. Drink now through 2014. 100 cases imported.??–JM??Region: France / Loire / Bourgueil Select to Add

Freshly crushed plum, blackberry and violet notes are driven by a mouthwatering tobacco note that extends on the taut finish. Drink now. 200 cases imported.??–JM??Region: France / Loire / Bourgueil Select to Add

Mabileau’s 2007 Bourgueil Racines smells of blackberry and black walnut, along with suggestions of game and sweat. Bitter-edged black fruits and toasted nuts dominate the palate, with meat and mineral inflections entering into the long, slightly numbingly (though finely) tannic finish. While this certainly has structure, I suspect it will be best enjoyed over the next 2-3 years. A Jon-David Headrick Selection, Asheville, NC; tel. (828) 252-8245; also imported by Simon N Cellars, Charlottesville, VA; tel. (434) 977-4476