Awards/Ratings

Wine Advocate (Robert Parker) – 95–98 pts (initial reviews), often cited as 97 pts (Wine Advocate #122, Apr 1999). Stephen Tanzer/Int'l Wine Cellar ~91 pts

Tasting Note

Opaque purple; intensely concentrated black cherry, cassis, truffle, licorice and roasted coffee with smoky new‑oak. Full‑bodied, viscous and layered, with polished yet powerful tannins and a very long finish.

Food Pairing

Western: roast lamb, grilled ribeye, duck confit, mushroom risotto, braised short ribs. Asian: Peking duck, char siu (barbecue pork), Korean bulgogi, braised beef short ribs, shiitake/soy stir‑fries.

Production Method

Hand‑harvested, 100% Merlot with extended maceration; fermented and matured in 100% new French oak (estimate ~18 months); small‑batch, high‑extraction 'garage' style production.

Vineyard Info

Created by Comte Stephan de Neipperg and launched as a separate label in 1996. Vineyard ~4.5 ha on limestone‑clay soils near Canon‑la‑Gaffelière; tiny production (≈800 cases in 1996).