Vinous - Score: 91 (2007 Jan.)

Deep ruby. Explosively ripe, pungent aromas of blackcurrant, boysenberry, candied licorice, vanilla and exotic spices. Lush, supple and very sweet, with deeply concentrated, almost liqueur-like dark fruit flavors, supple tannins and a good dose of oak spice. Undeniably suave and appealing (lovers of new oak may rate this higher than I do) but I wonder what it would have been like with a bit less coconutty oak.