Very dark and loaded with warm blackberry aromas. The palate is bright and shows verve, while the flavors of berry pie are about as dark and ripe as they come. Toasty and chocolaty on the finish, with tight, grabby tannins and classic Toro meatiness.——M.S.(12/15/2009)—— 89

Licorice, leather, char and an overload of plum and berries are what greet you, and that’s just the bouquet. In the mouth, this is thick, bruising stuff; the tannins are drawing and very tight, but the flavors of licorice, blackberry and chocolate are excellent. Finishes rock solid, which is to be expected given the wine’s total package. If you can, hold until 2011 to let the tannins soften; it’s meant for the cellar.——M.S.(4/1/2009)—— 91