Lots of people will open this wine before its time. They shouldn’t. It’s big, bold and gawky now, like an adolescent teenager, all primary fruit blackberries, cherries, cola, pomegranates, orange rind and smoky sandalwood. As good as it is, the fresh tannins and acids really need time to mellow and integrate with the fruit and oak. Better after 2011. ——S.H.(12/1/2009)—— 94