Once again while the oak is more moderately applied subtle is not the word that I would use to describe its presence at present on the much more Sauvage-inflected aromas of freshly turned earth, forest floor and various dark berry fruit scents. There is a highly seductive mouth feel to the equally big-bodied flavours thanks to the sappy dry extract that both coats the palate and buffers the marked firm tannic spine on the dusty, serious and gorgeously long finish. This ever-so-mildly rustic effort may one day catch its Bonnes Mares stable mate but at this early stage, it appears that the Bonnes Mares enjoys the slightest of edges. Either way, 15 years from now it will be fascinating to compare these two beauties!