The 1997 Domaine des Beates Terra d'Or is an amazing wine, astonishing given the difficult vintage conditions. An opaque purple color is accompanied by stratospheric levels of black currants, Asian spices, incense, cedar, and toasty oak. Full-bodied, flamboyant, and gorgeously concentrated, this large-scaled wine possesses sweet tannin and brilliant length (40+ seconds). In spite of its wealth of fruit, glycerin, and concentration, there is plenty of tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2025. Bravo! Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900