The wine opens with a nose of plum and blackberries and blueberries baked in a pie. Nicely integrated barrel notes of allspice and vanilla bean come before Pomerol's signature clay. The palate is remarkably lively for such a full and structured red, with flavors of black plum, blackberry and cassis with plenty of underbrush and clay. The wine has tannins of just the right size to handle grilled steak, and a dash of orange bitters on the finish.