This is as close to perfection as you will find in a wine. Robert Parker gave it a 98! Steven Tanzer writes: "Very youthful, saturated ruby-red color. Penetrating, powerful aromas of roasted plum, cassis, tobacco, earth, truffle, tar and meat, plus a floral topnote. Thick and sweet but sharply delineated, with impressive extract and very strong underlying structure. This is approachable now due to its balance and sheer sweetness of fruit but will go on for another decade or more. Finishing flavors build slowly and linger. Ripe, chewy tannins coat the entire palate. Perhaps better as a meal substitute than as an accompaniment to food."