Robust and rich in style, with big aromas of bacon, violets, wild herb, shoe polish and more. The palate is exuberant and generous, while the flavors of toasty black fruits, earth and mocha are nicely presented. Shows a little heat and roughness, but that will settle with bottle age.
— M.S.
(12/15/2009)
This wine gets it right. The color is dark and opaque, while the nose offers perfume, Middle Eastern spice, fruitcake and solid black fruit. Enticing in the mouth, where full black fruit flavors are pumped up by fine herb and spice notes. And then coffee and chocolate fill the finish. Drink now through 2010.
— M.S.
(2/1/2010)
Coconut, smoke and sweet aromas of cola, berry jam and fine tobacco make the bouquet inviting. In the mouth, it maintains freshness due to good acidity, while the flavors of earthy blackberry and plum come across dense and right. Firm and tannic on the finish; drink from 2012–2016.
— M.S.
(10/1/2011)