The top of the line for Columbia Crest, this powerful, classy blend is a very polished effort. It leads with rich, textured scents of ripe red and black fruits, accented with toast and vanilla. There are some lovely spices—pepper and fines herbes—that add welcome interest. Overall it’s lush and mouth-filling, built to age but delicious right away. ——P.G.(12/31/2001)—— 92