Big and firm, this wine has blackberry, cassis and sloe in its bouquet. The palate brings on bacon drippings, pencil lead and Partagas cigar wrapper. The array of flavor dimensions is seriously dynamic! Palate-consuming in full body and a tugging texture, it has tremendous acidic vibrancy that carries the ensemble of layers into a long finish. It’s drinking well now for those that prefer bolder styles, but it can easily carry along and become an even softer, well-aged and highly nuanced wine if held through 2023.

— Published (2/8/2017)