Bright red-ruby. Blackberry, black cherry, violet, licorice and spicy oak on the nose. Juicy and penetrating, showing good saline grip to the flavors of cassis, blackberry, licorice and fresh herbs. Clearly a wine from a cooler year, displaying a distinct herbal element, but with no shortage of intensity. Shows little in the way of easy sweetness but the tannins are fine-grained and unobtrusive.
Stephen Tanzer, July 2018