Usually straightforward in most vintages, this wine is denser and richer than usual in 2005. Offering loads of blackcurrant fruit, earth and spice, along with some notes of Christmas fruitcake thrown in for complexity, the color is still a youthful dense ruby/purple. This medium-bodied wine, which shows some light tannins, can be drunk now or over the next 5-7 years.

Nicely polished wine, quite classy but lacks depth of some of the others. Drink 2008-14. (15 points)

Firm, dark-hued wine that shows considerable acidity to go with its fresh fruits, smoke flavors and rough-edged wood. The black currant acidity is very dominant at this stage, edging out the rich core, which needs time.——R.V.(6/1/2008)—— 88