Brilliant medium ruby with purple edges.  Big plummy nose packed with asphalt and mint, cut grass and sweet oak with just a touch of graphite.  I’ve had a bunch of the Michel-Schlumbergers over the years.  Mostly well-designed Pinots… and a few Red Blends.  Always solid–if not a bit boring–wines.  This is somewhat different.  In the mouth, clean crisp and delightful.  Just enough raw power to intrigue and enough elegance to woo.  Bright, ripe cranberry with ample acid–not the slightest bit flabby (a cheap cab HALLMARK) and wonderfully lacking in nuances of laboratory manipulation, with a middle rich and round with gobs of sweet oak and salty black licorice.  Wonderful dry, soily tannins.  I seem to recall this being at nearly the 20$ price-point and you can do WAY worse for that amount.  Highly recommended for the value.  13-9  ♦♦