2001 Château Monbousquet - St.-Emilion

The home estate of Chantal and Gerard Perse, the 2001 Monbousquet (a 7,500-case blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon bottled unfined and unfiltered) is a big, flamboyant, sexy offering with a dense ruby/purple color as well as a big, sweet nose of licorice, dried herbs, smoke, black currants, and blackberries. Beautifully textured, medium to full-bodied, opulent, and forward, this is a juicy, succulent, seductive claret to drink over the next 10-12 years.--Rober Parker

Lots of smoky, ripe fruit in this young red. Full-bodied, with a soft and fine tannin structure and good fruit. Slightly hollow center-palate, but well-done. Score range: 89-91