Deep cherry red with red edge. Very open with oak, wet earth and chocolate notes. Mouthfilling but soft and supple (especially with food). Clearly some heavy oak treatment, but the wine is not overly astringent. A distinct herbaceous character developed over several hours. Good retronasal with the flavors lingering. 14% alcohol. 2,2,3.5,9.5=17. Tasted August 8-9.
After 24 hours the wine was somewhat subdued and had developed a slight sourness to the finish. This latter point is interesting as the first bottle I tasted of the wine had weeped leaving a wine stained cork. That wine had smelt of blackberry, chocolate and caramel, and later pepper. Had good mouthfeel and excellent retronasal but a sour finish. The smell of caramel and the sour taste spell oxidation. Given my experience with both bottles I would predict that this wine does not have a long life ahead of it.
Mike