Pretty aromas of violets, berries and light cream. Full-bodied and smooth, with an oily, savory, raspberry finish. An old-style wine that's lost some of its quality through weak winemaking, but still interesting. Very good, but another underachievement from Biondi-Santi. Drink now. -JS

Little changes at Biondi-Santi. The tannins on this huge 1997 are dense, almost impenetrable. The flavors are of cherry, tobacco, old wood and solid, black fruits. The aftertaste is all tannin at this stage. Despite this rigorous adherence to tradition, the 1997 seems a touch less overwhelming than previous vintages of this classic wine. Nevertheless, age for at least 15 years before drinking.——R.V.(8/1/2002)—— 93