Robert Parker – 93

Offering cedary notes with some hints of black olive tapenade, grilled meats, spice box and wood with black and red currants, this wine seems fully mature, lusty, rich and undeniably a major success in this vintage. The tannins are largely resolved and the wine is drinking beautifully, so there is no reason to defer your gratification for this wine. Drink now through 2025. [Robert M. Parker, Jr., 13/08/2015]

Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025

JancisRobinson.com – 16.5

Mid crimson. Sweet, rather luscious nose. Quite a bit of alcohol sticks out and it’s a little dusty but there’s certainly fleshy pleasure to be had here. Grainy, slightly hot finish. But ready and giving pleasure. [13/10/2009]

Anticipated maturity: 2007-2013

Vinous – 92

(bottled in July of 2004) Ruby-red. Aromas of black raspberry, tobacco, minerals and mocha. Suave, silky, lush and round; quite full but with lovely inner-mouth energy and aromatic character. Seamless, deep flavors of redcurrant, fruitcake and minerals. Finishes with excellent mounting persistence, the dusty, fine tannins buried in fruit. A terrific effort for the vintage, and likely to age gracefully over the next decade or two. [Stephen Tanzer, 05/01/2005]