($22) Full, deep red. High-toned, pure aromas of cherry, currant and flowers. Sweet, fat and superripe, with deep flavors of red fruits, chocolate liqueur and sweet oak. This began a bit plump and exotically sweet but with time in the glass showed much more shape and freshness without any loss of fat or richness. Finishes with big, ripe, slightly dusty tannins. This was clearly the breakthrough vintage for Juliette Becot's Cotes de Castillon property, which is situated on a clay and limestone plateau.

Professional content appears courtesy of Vinfolio

This 25-acre vineyard, planted on clay and limestone soils, consists of 25% Cabernet Franc and 75% Merlot. Michel Rolland's top assistant, Jean-Philippe Fort, consults for the Becot family who owns this up-and-coming Cotes de Castillon superstar. The dense ruby/purple-hued, rich, full-bodied, powerful (14.8% alcohol) 2003 is both a hedonistic and intellectual turn-on. It will not have the longevity of the 2004, but it provides a big, substantial, corpulent mouthful of Merlot and Cabernet Franc that coats the palate, and finishes with silky tannin. It is a sleeper of the vintage.

Professional content appears courtesy of Vinfolio

Loads of clean fruit here with hints of licorice and minerals. Full-bodied, with fine, silky tannins and a long finish. Very well-crafted. From the daughter of the owner of Château Beau-Séjour Bécot in St.-Emilion.

Professional content appears courtesy of Vinfolio