At almost 10 years of age, this mammoth effort is just starting to budge along the path to maturity. The nose is rich with scents of baking spices; the palate shows plenty of plum and blackberry fruit, but is more about earth, spice and raw power. This tremendously deep, powerful and structured wine should be even better by 2010, with a plateau of maturity that should extend out to 2040 or beyond.

A big, voluptuous wine--decadence in a bottle. Sports a brilliant magenta, purple color and intense aromas of plums and berries with hints of flowers. It's medium- to full-bodied, with a chunky, velvety-tannin mouthfeel and a long aftertaste of chocolate and fruit. Lovely. Best after 2008. 9,000 cases made.