Warm, earthy aromas of molasses, moss and baked fruit scream rich and big, and the palate matches that early announcement with cola, baked blackberry, coffee and syrupy flavors. Weighty and forceful, but not without style and a flash of elegance. Pure Toro; drink now through 2012.
— M.S.
(2/1/2010)
Rich, dark and full on the bouquet, with sturdy black fruit aromas. The palate is round and tough, but done right. Flavors of chocolate, blackberry and prune run deep, while the finish is full of power and confirming ripe black fruit flavors. Drink now through 2014.
— M.S.
(12/15/2011)
Sweet on the nose but also a little green, with minty aromas of herb mixed with blueberry. It feels typically tannic and tough, with roasted blackberry and chocolate flavors. The finish is tannic, with spicy, chocolaty flavors that last for quite a while. Drink now. USA Wine West.
— M.S.
(7/1/2012)
Definitely a once-ripe, raisiny wine with hard Toro tannins and molasses aromas and flavors. Borderline syrupy but with enough structure and grip to make the grade. Warming and rich wine, with a fierce strucutre and big tannic framework. Drink now.
— M.S.
(2/1/2010)
Ultraripe, almost to the point of being syrupy and soupy. The nose is all sweet licorice, baked fruit and raisin. In the mouth, there’s some tannic bite but mostly it’s a rich, bruising, unctuous wine with smoky, rich berry flavors and a sweet, toasty finish.
— M.S.
(4/1/2010)
Maturing fairly well, with brown edges to the wine’s earthy hue. The nose is rooty and deep, but there’s a definite cheesy, mildly bretty accent to it. And the mouthfeel is defined by major tannic grip and bite. Warm and mildly raisiny, with caramel on the finish. Drink now.
— M.S.
(2/1/2010)
This is heavy and raisiny, with ripe earth and mineral aromas that are suggestive of Port. It feels loaded and scratchy, with licorice, prune and pepper flavors that finish short and with some heat. A bullish style to drink now.
— M.S.
(12/31/2012)