Reserved on the nose, this onyx-colored wine is dynamic on the palate both in flavor dimension and in expansive texture. It tastes of tart, dried cranberries as well as tobacco leaf, soy and hemlock. It’s an unusual wine, and a wine with tons of compelling characters that develop as the wine see air. The medium-plus body has pithy tannins and integrated acidity. However, it is moving along in its bottle aging and is not likely to improve much more in bottle. A bit more freshness and smidge less alcohol might have helped the potential ageability here. Drink: 2017-18

— Published (1/19/2017)