A stunning success for its wonderfully extracted, complex melange of blackberry, cassis, sweet anise, plum and cured tobacco. That’s what rigorous selection can accomplish in a so-so vintage. The flavors are wrapped in the rich, sweet tannins and balanced acids you’d expect from this appellation. Might age, but best now through next year. ——S.H.(5/1/2004)—— 93

A wonderful Merlot. It’s very soft in the mouth; the blackberry, cherry and plum flavors are not especially dense, probably because of the vintage. But the tannins are as softly blurry as Renoir colors. This is an early drinker of immense charm.——S.H.(12/31/2003)—— 91

Shows varietally correct aromas and flavors of black cherries, mocha and dried herbs, also some smoke and toast. It’s good wine, but fairly tart, lacking the expansiveness and lushness that would bring it to the next level. A victim of the vintage?——W.E.(2/1/2004)—— 86