This is the first vintage the vinification was controlled by Gerard Perse and his two consultants, Dr. Alain Raynaud and Michel Rolland. Dense ruby/purple-colored, with copious quantities of black raspberry and cherry fruit intermixed with spicy oak, this deep, rich, medium to full-bodied 1997 possesses sweet tannin, low acidity, excellent length, and admirable concentration. Already delicious, it promises to improve with 2-3 years of bottle age, and keep for 12-14 years ... atypically long for a 1997.