I downgraded this wine because of the aggressive new oak and vanillin that dominate the wine's personality. This dark ruby/purple-colored wine displays sweet cranberry and jammy black currant fruit on the attack, but narrows in the mouth with a compressed personality. Nevertheless, there is fine purity, medium body, and plenty of tannin. This 1995 will merit a higher score if it turns out the fruit is deep enough to absorb the wood. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2018.

I downgraded this wine because of the aggressive new oak and vanillin that dominate the wine's personality. This dark ruby/purple-colored wine displays sweet cranberry and jammy black currant fruit on the attack, but narrows in the mouth with a compressed personality. Nevertheless, there is fine purity, medium body, and plenty of tannin. This 1995 will merit a higher score if it turns out the fruit is deep enough to absorb the wood. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2018.