Community Tasting Note
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WST wrote: 93 points
April 26, 2006 - It kills me to enjoy this; I've auctioned most of my new world wines for old. Drank staight from bottle to glass at cellar temperature. Black-purple and opaque. Use it to protect your eyes from a total solar eclipse. Its highly extracted, alcoholic and dense. However, I can't avoid enjoying its aromatics, purity and balance. Black currants, plum, licorice and coffee. Heavy oak doesn't overwhelm in the face of the impenetrable fruit. A truly regal wine. The monster tannins have mellowed. On the other hand, this is NOT a food wine. This is a wine to drink alone, or with strong aged cheeses and meats before or after a meal, not during. If you burn your Chateaubriand, serve this and no one will notice the charcoal in their teeth.
OK, that was last night. I hated rating this a 92; tonight, I regret elevating it a point. Its gotten smoother, more balanced, and more complex. Despite its mass, its still elegant. The dark fruit now seems accompanied by butterscotch and dark chocolate. Protracted finish seals the deal.7,111 views