They say in the blurb: [i]it is Full bodied with crisp tannins [/i] Well, in Beaune terms it is fullish medium bodied, Beaune 1er is full bodied. The tannins & acidity & oak are nicely balanced with the fruit - Crisp ? The fruit could be described as still crunchy (only three years since release)

* I share buying, 3 of each by 2 different 6 Bottle cases with a wine buddy who specialised with affordable Cote'dOr in the 70's, whilst I was specialising with Petite Chateau on the right and left banks. We've been mates for decades, We buy for one and another sometimes.

We research, check vintages, check growers. check prices....then go for it. We both have a bit too much stock - but I have moved gracefully over to Cote D'Or 1er's as my Cellar Pride and Glory in the last 7 years, because my palate and age and constitution is more suited to the best of French Pinot Noir - I never seem to get a wine head from indulging in slightly too much good pinot noir. Ripe Beaune is incredibly versatile, Ripe Nuits is heavenly.

** Also, I found that the best Petite Chateau clarets that I like were always hyped / ramped up to near £20 and that much of the uk stuff at less than £10 in the supermarkets is very samey and generally too tannic or too oaked for the fruit. Too much oak and tannin can give you a wine head, a sort of dullness (excluding 2005 ) Dont get me wrong I will leap for a good PC 2003 St Estephe as they are lush to drink this year. English people dont know PC St Estephe, so the price was not ramped-up - 2005's were ramped-up to double the dosh over here.

**Edited on reflection - Too much information ! My pendulum may swing the other way for reds - ha ha, always searching for the best affordable ones in their respective classes and levels of quality.

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Duncan

Leyda Valley seems to be quite Marlborough like only with higher alcohol.

Mel's tasting notes should throw up the best of what's around.