Allen Meadows - Score: 96 (2019 May)

I have long been an admirer of this wine as it is dazzlingly elegant and very densely fruited with knock out aromas of spice, dried rose petals, clove, anise and black pepper that are followed by somewhat austere, rich, concentrated and gorgeously textured flavors that exude a fine minerality on the wonderfully long finish. The intensity here is really something to experience and the overall impression is one of class and refinement. It's worth pointing out that this is sufficiently close to its peak that it could be approached now with an hour's worth of air but well-stored examples will still be with us 50 years from now. Multiple examples and very consistent notes, in fact I've never had a substandard bottle save for the most recent bottle (2019) that seemed to lack. real freshness and vibrancy.