TASTING NOTES: Medium Garnet in color with evidence of aging with some slight rim variation. On the nose, there is a medley of fruits of cassis, black currant, dried/caramelized figs, cooked blackberries, dates, dried red cherries. The bouquet of potpourri and dried rose petals mesh with notes of chocolate, black licorice, anise, vanilla bean, espresso beans, tobacco, and cigar box. Spices of cloves, slight pepper notes and allspice round out this complex nose.
On the palate, the full-bodied wine coats with lush tannins and a full acid profile. The benefit of bottle aging is clear with dried and cooked fruits in the background. Stewed strawberries, red cherries, blackberries and stewed blueberries come through with chocolate, espresso and smoke. A mineral, earthy note on the profile gives the wine a mature, old-world profile.
69% Cabernet Sauvignon and 31% Cabernet Franc
92 points
Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar: Enticing, complex nose…Broad, lush and smooth, with pretty floral lift to the red fruit and spice flavors. Nicely delineated in the middle palate and long on the back end.
90 points
The Wine Enthusiast: Shows the luscious fruit and softness of previous vintages, with rich, layered raspberry, cherry, cassis, vanilla, caramelized oak and spice flavors that go on and on into a long finish…