96 Points | International Wine Cellar , November/December 2008

($200; 88% grenache, 10% syrah and 2% viognier-a bit different than the unfinished blend I tasted last year; 16.5% alcohol) Opaque purple. Room-filling bouquet offers mulberry, cassis, incense, graphite, smoked meat and cracked pepper, plus a strong potpourri element gaining power with air. Lush and creamy, with impossibly deep dark berry liqueur flavors and quickly expanding spiciness. Utterly stains the palate, finishing (if you can call it that) on strong black raspberry and smoky Indian spice notes. This refuses to let go of the palate and is eerily energetic and precise. Fifty percent whole clusters were used here. Wow!

100 Points | Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate