Vinous - Score: 97-100 (2003 January)

Bright dark ruby, the deepest of these '99s. More sauvage aromas of black fruits, leather, game and black pepper; classic raw syrah berries. Extremely dense, full and sappy; this saturates every millimeter of the palate. A remarkably glyceral, thick wine with great clarity of flavor and verve. Extraordinary reverberating finish throws off notes of black fruits, brown spices, pepper and earth.