90(+?) Points | International Wine Cellar , March/April 2009

($40) Saturated, bright medium ruby. Captivating aromas of ripe plum, raspberry, dark chocolate and spicy, cedary oak. Tightly wound and firm-edged, but with more pliancy and a much suaver texture than the merlot/cab blend. The densely packed flavors of black plum, minerals, smoke and five-spice powder really saturate the palate on the back half without giving any impression of weight. This rather powerfully structured wine shut down in the glass. Its spine of tannins and acids calls for several years of cellaring. (Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY)