89(+?) Points | International Wine Cellar , January/February 2003

(this aged on its lees, in 80% new oak, until the bottling) Saturated medium ruby. Black raspberry, bitter chocolate, licorice, pepper and spicy oak on the nose. Sweet, rich and chewy; broad and mouthfilling yet also nicely bright. The new oak element gives the wine a strong aspect of torrefaction but also contributes definition and structure. Finishes firmly tannic and persistent, with notes of black fruits, dark chocolate and licorice. In comparison to this wine, the 2000 showed a more explosive, gamey nose but a bit less delineation of flavor and grip.

88-91 Points | Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate