90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc

Robert Parker: 90+, Neal Martin: 81/83, James Suckling: 89/91

Robert Parker: Closed and difficult to fathom, this wine is certainly not performing up to what I expected from my initial tasting. Either this wine is going through an ungraceful stage, or I simply overrated it from barrel. Deep ruby in color, with the classic black cherry, licorice, spice box, and cedary nose, the firm, structured, medium-bodied flavors exhibit excellent depth and the potential for longevity, but then clamp down tightly with a wall of tannin and acids. This is a wine to forget for at least 5-6 years. Drink it over the following 15-20.