86/88

Stephen Tanzer

Vinous

Medium ruby. Aromas of roasted raspberry, roasted nuts, black olive and smoky oak; shows a slightly generic cold maceration quality. Chunky and dense in the mouth, with flavors of dark berries and earth. Finishes with slow-building, dusty tannins. Currently offers less charm than the '99. 05/2001

93

Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

This is the finest effort I have ever tasted from this estate. It possesses great intensity, an inky purple color to the rim, a tremendous nose of minerals, white acacia flowers, creme de cassis, and black cherries, with some licorice, vanilla, and smoke in the background. It is truly great stuff, although I would not push its aging capacity beyond 10-12 years. This intense, full-throttle offering is made from a blend of 50% Merlot and equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: now-2014. 04/2003