A deep garnet color with negligible lightening at the edge suggests a relatively young wine. The nose offers up musty, foresty, damp cellar aromas with little fruit in evidence. Shrill acidity, hard tannin, and an underlying weediness dominate the wine's flavors and personality. This austere, tough-textured wine lacks ripeness, extract, and charm. Although it is capable of lasting for years, it is unlikely to develop into anything special.
The tasting notes for this section are from two single blind tastings, one conducted in May, 1996, in California, and the other in June, 1996, in Baltimore.