Tart and jammy-jellied, with blackberry, cherry, currant, dark chocolate and spice flavors that finish very dry. The tutti-fruitiness is like those Aussie Shirazes that go so well with barbecue. ——S.H.(6/1/2010)—— 84

This is a wild, untamed wine. Pours dark and thick, with a young, shut-down aroma of wild blackberries. In the mouth, it explodes, rich in blackberry and cassis flavor packed into huge, astringent tannins. Clearly will live for a very long time. Best now after decanting; will age through 2015 if not longer.——S.H.(5/1/2006)—— 90

This is a big wine, but it shows considerable finesse. Pours inky black, and explodes in mulberry, cassis, coffee and herb flavors that are very dry. The tannins are chewy, suggesting either aging through the decade, or something rib-sticking, like short ribs. ——S.H.(6/1/2005)—— 88