Score: |
99 VM. "(26.2 hl/h; 13.6% alcohol): Medium dark red with a garnet rim; this is quite a bit more evolved chromatically than the '47. Strikingly complex aromas of violet, raspberry, strawberry and white pepper, lifted by a hint of leafy spiciness: very cabernet franc! Then fresh and refined, with sweet red berry, underbrush, sage, rosemary and spicy mineral flavors given unbelievable clarity and cut by high but harmonious acids. Really great stuff, with excellent balance, precision and vivid minerality. The extremely long, floral finish features excellent grip and clarity, with a lively, noble tannic bite. A classic example of what great cabernet franc is all about, but those looking for Brobdingnagian size and power might be disappointed. The 1948 is Gwyneth Paltrow or Catherine Deneuve, compared to 1947's Playboy bunny." Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Oct 2011 |