Full red-ruby. Fresh but inexpressive nose hints at kirsch, licorice and minerals. Lively in the mouth but quite reserved and not yet showing its personality or sweetness. But this is a firmly structured, intensely flavored wine with a serious tannic spine. Here's a 2003 that really calls for a decade of patience-and a wine that should eventually merit an even higher rating.

Some reduction renders the nose difficult to comment on but the somewhat austere and robust flavors are fresh and sweet with a chocolaty, dusty and intense finish. This is a very firmly structured, powerful and muscular wine of outstanding complexity if not necessarily of great refinement.

Very, very deep. Intense. Quite painful and exaggerated. A broad nose and lots of intensity on the palate. Definite bite. Needs ages. Such harsh tannins. I preferred his 2002s. (JR)