A dense, immense, towering forest of a wine. Seemingly impenetrable at first, it offers small openings into its dark depths through waves of aromatics that leap from smoking pine wood to green peppercorns to baked plum. It is explosive in the mouth, intense and concentrated, with notes of dark chocolate, bramble, hoisin sauce and rich dark soil. It still feels so fresh, buoyed by its racy acid. The tannins are fairly chewy and grainy. Tasted from magnum.

Glass-staining purple. Smoky black raspberry and cherry-cola aromas display impressive clarity and alluring spiciness. Lush, creamy red and dark berry flavors possess impressive depth, with a firm mineral spine and the smoky note repeating. A sappy, sweet, extremely long finish leaves sweet berry skin and violet pastille notes behind.