Clos Marie, Pic St Loup 'Metairies du Clos' 2007
"Initial overtones of game and chocolate in the 2007 Coteaux du Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup Metairies du Clos Vieilles Vignes – Carignan and Grenache with a small measure of Syrah – are in part a legacy of its slightly oxidative state prior to sulfuring. Beneath that, and on the palate, is a wonderful saturation of ripe black raspberry and cassis, decadently sweet, lily-like floral perfume, aromatic tropical woods, and black tea. The striking minerality here is saline and iodine-like, which perfectly supports the wine’s almost explosively bright and vivacious back end (and this with no added sulfur!). Palpably high extract and palate-staining persistence are here allied to a refinement of tannin and correspondingly caressing texture that goes beyond the already remarkable pleasures of the cuvee Simon. I imagine this will be worth cellaring for at least a decade."
— 93-94+ pts David Schildknecht, the Wine Advocate