The wine was aged in French and American oak barrels for sixteen months, topped every other week and racked 5 times. From the beginning, this wine exhibited raspberry aromas and complex tastes that filled the senses and expectations. The color is a brilliant, dark garnet. The nose is fruity with nuances of raspberries, blackberries, ripe cherries, chocolate, tobacco, cedar and oak. The promise of the nose is carried through to the taste.
Nothing is out of place.
It is more elegant and better-balanced than the '97 and bigger than the '96. The berry flavors are well-integrated with the oak and tannins, resulting in a rich explosion of fruit in the middle of the palate. The high alcohol drives the flavor without being hot. The finish is long and lingering.