92 pts Vinous/Tanzer
(15% alcohol; aged in 60% new and 40% second-fill French oak): Bright red-ruby. Pungent peppery, herbal lift to the aromas of cassis, graphite and bitter chocolate oak. Plush, broad and fine-grained, with sweet dark berry fruit flavors complicated by dark chocolate and tobacco leaf flavors. Old-style wine in its herbacity and earthy character but with terrific subtle sweetness, creaminess and density to its seamless dark berry flavors. Fine-grained, dusty, broad tannins are fully supported by material. Very long and savory on the end. Built to age.