Meo-Camuzet’s 2008 Richebourg strikes me as their most obviously tannic wine of the vintage, despite the confitured intensity and plush richness of its black fruits. The effect of wood - whether or not this includes amplification of tannin - comes out here in a flattering way via a maple syrup-like amalgam of resin and caramel. Sweet, decadent floral perfume; brown spices; and crushed stone add palate interest, though the staining concentration of this wine’s finish is at least as yet somewhat undifferentiated and accompanied by gum-numbing intensity of tannin. When racked, this was “explosive” reports Meo, and the metaphor of a bomb sunk into the earth and topped with sandbags does strike me as potentially useful for a Pinot grand cru I would not want to touch for 5-7 years and which seems built to last for more than twice that long. (189, The Wine Advocate 29th Jun 2010)