Opaque purple. Exotically perfumed bouquet of ripe blackberry and boysenberry, with complicating notes of cracked pepper, five spice powder, musky herbs and vanilla. Lush and creamy in texture, offering deep, pliant dark berry compote flavors and fully absorbed tannins. The spicy quality resonates on the finish, which is strikingly pure and very persistent. There's nothing to stop you from drinking this now but I'd hold mine for at least another five years and then serve it with a spicy braised lamb or beef dish. Score - 93. (Josh Raynolds, vinous.com, Sept. 2009) Opaque purple. Exotically perfumed bouquet of ripe blackberry and boysenberry, with complicating notes of cracked pepper, five spice powder, musky herbs and vanilla. Lush and creamy in texture, offering deep, pliant dark berry compote flavors and fully absorbed tannins. The spicy quality resonates on the finish, which is strikingly pure and very persistent. There's nothing to stop you from drinking this now but I'd hold mine for at least another five years and then serve it with a spicy braised lamb or beef dish. Score - 93. (Josh Raynolds, vinous.com, Sept. 2009) 1500 mL bottle