96 points Vinous: "Deeply perfumed aromas of black raspberry and cherry-cola are complemented by hints of candied flowers, incense, vanilla and exotic spices. Broad and fleshy in the mouth, offering juicy red and dark berry liqueur, mocha and candied rose flavors and a suggestion of spicecake. Becomes more energetic with air and shows superb definition on the strikingly long finish, which features supple tannins and resonating berry, spice and floral qualities."
This wine is built to be great, comes from the best of the best sources and delivers every single vintage. To date the oldest versions of this bottling (2000 and 2001) are still drinking very well and are surprisingly youthful. Yes, this is an esoteric wine in the sense of how it is made, how it differs from all our other wines and that it is frequently our top wine of any given vintage despite being a blend rather than from a single vineyard. That is a bit of the fun of this bottling to go along with the pure deliciousness of the wine.