From its very deep, convincingly Cabernet aromas to its substantial, insistently fruity flavors, this outstanding wine exhibits a compelling sense of layered richness with creamy oak, caramel, loamy earth and glimmers of dried herbs appended to its deep and succulent themes of ripe currants. For all of its very impressive richness and its initially outgoing manner, however, it sports a streak of youthfully tough astringency at the finish, and we suspect that it will show its full potential only a...

Bright ruby-red. Cassis, spice cake and exotic dark chocolate on the nose, lifted by a floral perfume. Sweet, dense and youthfully unevolved, with classic cabernet flavors of dark berries, dark chocolate, licorice, leather and flowers. A very backward wine that's currently dominated by its rather powerful structure. Broadens out impressively on the back end, finishing quite long and leathery, with dusty tannins. Showed increasing sweetness of fruit with extended aeration. These wines were acciden...

Rating: 90/100 - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 157 on Feb-05

Rating for United States-California: 95 (slightly better than average year)<br/><br/>Drinkability: young, aging quickly, could be good now<br/>