94(+?) Points | International Wine Cellar , November/December 2012

Good medium ruby, brighter than the Cailloux.  The nose offers superb lift for this warm vintage:  black cherry, blackberry, cocoa powder and pink peppercorn, plus a suggestion of marshmallow.  Lush and pliant but with a firm spine of acidity and underlying minerality energizing the sweet dark fruit and black olive flavors.  A distinctly Rhone-like animal quality adds interest.  At once rich and dry, with a building, tactile, palate-staining finish featuring a saline quality and strong black cherry flavor.  At 14.2% alcohol, this has the lowest octane level of this set of 2009s but boasts outstanding flavor impact.

95 Points | Wine Spectator

96 Points | Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate