This wine needs at least three more years of cellaring. I suspect this is one of those nearly immortal examples of the vintage that will last for 40-50 years. How often can one say that about modem-day Bordeaux or Burgundies? The color is black/purple, the nose reluctantly offers up smells of tar and spices (including soy), smoke, coffee, and cassis. In the mouth, there is a heady, chewy ripeness, extraordinary presence, and an almost massive amount of weight and fruit, all crammed into a well-delineated, rich, backward, tannic, sublime wine that is a benchmark example of red Hermitage. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2035. Last tasted 6/96.