Inky purple colored with slight staining, and high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of pipe tobacco, charred oak, ripe black plum, acai berry, vanilla nib, espresso, brambleberry, smoke, granite, and a medicinal note.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body and high tannins that literally coat my whole mouth- wowza.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of ripe black fruit with several oak influencers including vanilla, coffee, medicinal notes, smoke, tobacco and obviously the charred oak.  The tannins may be ferocious but they melt away to a powdery finish that lasts medium length and includes some black tea.  It’s a young bottle for sure that needs some hefty steaks or a rich Ragu.  93 points from me for this $35 bottle makes it a 5 star wine that either needs a few years in cellar or a serious aerating.  Drink till 2035 easily.  Salut….

Opaque, inky purple colored with medium staining and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, black currant, coffee, loamy earth, eucalyptus, licorice, bramble berry and blueberry.  The palate is dry with high acidity, a full body and high tannins that are slightly green and very grippy.  Ripe fruit flavors of black cherry, black plum, blueberry, bramble, leather, licorice, coffee, loam, and eucalyptus.  The wine is weighty and very rich as well as structured.  This is a young wine for sure.  The finish is medium in length and layered with dark fruit and secondary flavors.  The tannins seem to sort themselves out after a few minutes, they are very prominent but not green and rough.  This is a delicious bottle that needs a hearty pasta or thick Ribeye.  It will cellar well for at least 20 years and become more approachable in 5, but you can drink now if you like them super dry and astringent.  If not, aerate or decant and you should be good to go.  93 points from me for this $35 effort makes it a 5 star treat.  Salut….