After the Bachelet, here is also some oak, but rather than a smothering sweetness, it’s delivered with a spicy element that is more than amply buffered by a growing, crooning floral aromatic – perfect violets. The last drops in the glass offer a beautiful ‘come-hither’ red fruit. In the mouth there is sweetness, but the acidity urges you into the mid-palate where you have the impression that the wines bursts further into life. Long with a mineral end-note. I might buy a magnum or two for rainy day – if I’m not too late!

Medium, medium-plus cherry-red. A deep and impressive nose that’s edged with dark cherry and darker oak. The palate is very well concentrated, soft tannin and excellent acidity. The fruit is dark shaded, buttressed by oak flavour and has a nice creamy medium length. Very, very good.

Deep cherry-red. The nose starts a little foisty – sulfurous funk, not taint – some oak too. Just a few minutes of aeration and it is much cleaner; there is width and a mix of savoury and tight red & black fruit elements and some oak, clearly 2003 from the aromatics. Quite dense vs the other vintages, relatively low acidity but there’s a very sneaky length. The texture is actually very good, there are plenty of grainy tannins but they are hidden behind the concentrated fruit. It’s not my favoured style but it has been executed very, very well. The oak whilst ever-present eventually gives a slightly black-olive edge to the wine.

Medium ruby-red. The nose starts bright and red, powdery fruit with currently just a little savoury undertow, shows a nice core of intensity. Lovely texture, perfect acidity and good mid-palate intensity. The acidity elongates the finish though here lies the only negative, just a little bitterness at the very end. I expect that this is a transitory oak effect that will improve. An
xcellent wine I think.

Medium, medium-plus ruby-red. A nose of wide and sweet red fruit with just a suggestion of high-toned fresh mint. The impact is very up-front and indeed front-end loaded, slowly fading through the mid-palate and finish but the finish holds well. There is good ripeness and a nicely accessible presentation. A diminuendo of a wine, no hard edges, though not much structure either, yet very nice aromatics indeed. Still no rush to consume.

(From magnum) A deep core of colour that’s just holding onto the last trace of cherry-red. Aromaticly this is both wide and deep – the high notes are a little floral and the depth is of red jam tarts. The palate has good density yet somehow remains rather compact. The texture has just an edge of fat and plenty of tannin though it’s quite fine for a Savigny. The fruit is black-edged and really does hang-on very well in the finish. Certainly young, but lots of potential – everyone enjoyed this wine – three more were ordered for the cellar but they had sold out!

A wild cacophony of red and black fruit over oak greets your nose, slowly focuses to bright black cherry eventually with a sweet, creamy edge. This is likewise black-fruit dominated in the mouth with more than a trace of oak flavour, but no bad oak texture. Super acidity and a finish that for most of the trip is also a little oaky then surprises with a creamy flourish. There’s just a little more wood evident here than with the other wines, but there’s also depth, good texture and great balance. This wine is showing very young – I wouldn’t hesitate to leave this 5 years before revisiting, the base material is very good.

An open, sweet cherry nose. Again an extra density on the palate. Fine tannins with a perceptible extra length to the finish. The vines are a mix of ages; planted in the 1950’s, 1980’s and 1990’s. A lovely elegant effort which shows just a hint of cream on the finish.