One cannot avoid the notion that this wine is simply overextracted, too hard-pushed, too dirty, too much. Yet, for all of its unmistakable excess, there is amazing fruit at work here, and those who like a bold, dramatic wine and have the patience to wait a decade for it to fully emerge will find true love in this one. Its aromas of concentrated, intense black cherry fruit blended with layers that run from toast to cinnamon to horse blanket to truffles and coffee beans are followed on the palate b...

Full ruby-red. Aromas of blackberry syrup, chocolate and game. Rich, sweet and fat, with briary black fruits complicated by mocha, leather and minerals. Denser and sweeter in the middle palate than the Jackson Park merlot but quite tannic on the lingering finish, with notes of briary berries, leather and game.

Rating: (90-92) - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 142 on Aug-02

Rating for United States-California: 96 (excellent)<br/><br/>Drinkability: too young, let it sit<br/>