Beautifully crafted, sleek and elegant, sharply focused on ripe, rich cherry, currant, plum and berry. Picks up pretty floral and spicy nuances and the tannins, while firm, are supple and integrated. Best from 2000 through 2007. 3,200 cases made.

A strong performance from a vintage considered among the best; this comes on and stays intense through the close. However, the wine's scale caused some doubts to be registered about its balance-it's pretty hot, and high in alcohol. Still, few argued with the toast, dark berry and licorice nose, the dark spicy-sweet flavors or rich, even mouthfeel. Closes long and a little hot, with large, mouthcoating tannins. Drink now-2006.