89(+?)? Points | International Wine Cellar , January 2012

(52% malbec, 34% cabernet sauvignon, 8% bonarda and 6% tannat):  Bright, saturated medium ruby.  Aromas of cassis, dark chocolate and pepper joined by sexy oak spices and vanilla.  Sweet and intense, with slightly jammy blueberry and cassis flavors lifted by herb and violet nuances.  Finishes with firm tannins and acids that will need some time to harmonize.  Blackberry and dark chocolate linger on the aftertaste.  (A second bottle was similarly disjointed and also showed some intrusive oakiness.)