Extremely intense and concentrated black cherry flavor, with smoky, earthy after-flavors and a very long finish. As big as it is, you expect some tannin and toughness at the end, but it maintains a Merlot-like roundness when it takes its bows. Gobs of intense black fruit, berry, cherry and currant, enrobed in fat, spicy, chocolatey, oak vanillin complexity. The finish goes on and on. Cassis, ripe plum and bittersweet chocolate with lots of smoky, new barrel char complexity.
Moderate astringency is balanced to fruit for tremendous cellar potential.
I'd guess it will improve for 15-20 years. A good wine to lay away for children born in 1995 to enjoy when they reach their majority. If you must drink it now, match it with strong cheese at the end of the meal as a kind of no-sweet dessert. An Italian emigrant works for others until he can save enough money to plant his own vineyards. For many years he sells his grapes to others, with the family finally building its own winery and selling its own 100 percent estate grown wines all over the world.