Vinous - Score: 94+ (2004 September)

Deeper red than the '91, but not quite as lucid. Initially withdrawn nose opened with aeration to show plum liqueur, tar, woodsmoke and game. Tightly wound and rather inexpressive in the middle palate; less expansive today than the '91, and showing surprising acidity. Here one senses the impact of drought on the ripening process. But this is dense, firm and powerful, with a long, peppery aftertaste and considerable aging potential. Will it ever show the complexity of the '91?