This is a black, dry, tannicly astringent wine that doesn't seem to merit its own bottling. It might soften and sweeten in ten or fifteen years, but why bother. Still, it's clean and balanced.——S.H.(4/1/2006)—— 83

A blending grape, on its own this very dark wine is super-fruity and somewhat one-dimensional. Shy in aroma, the major impacts are the plummy flavor and thick tannins.——S.H.(12/1/2004)—— 85

A big, darkly colored wine, Hulk-sized in its mouthfilling flavors. They range from very ripe, jammy summer blackberries, plums and blueberries to dark chocolate and coffee, and are very dry. There’s a dusty sprinkling of tannins in the mouth that demands rich foods, such as duck, steak or lamb.——S.H.(4/1/2004)—— 90