Deep, dark garnet in color with slight bricking & clearing at the edges. Full, forward & attractive nose of well developed, ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries & plums with overtones of classic cigar box notes of cedar & tobacco, leather, spices/herbs, earthy/dusty, minerals & a hint of vanilla/toasty oak notes in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, well developed, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blackberries & plums with spices, herbs, minerals, cocoa, cedar & earthy notes. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present but is most likely at its peak of development at 40 years of age & while I did not detect it being in decline, I doubt any further development would occur. [Cork was partially stained but intact; fill was in the lower portion of the neck almost into the shoulder