The deep, white soils of the Sugarille vineyard are rich in calcareous clay but very stony and more compact than the other vineyards on the estate. Combined with a south-western exposure, perfect ventilation and excellent drainage, this creates ideal conditions for long lived and structured wines. The 2008 is restrained at first but soon opens to reveal a magnificent perfume of violets and dried fruits followed by a rich palate with layers of ripe, black cherry and dried herb flavours with seamless tannins and a magnificent mineral finish. This is an impressively concentrated, harmonious and refined wine with wonderful freshness and it has the potential to age for twenty five years but may be hard to resist earlier.