About this Wine: Purchased in 1998 from the daughter of the local blacksmith - hence the name - the initial vineyard was primarily based on a gravel outcrop, assembled over the generations wit...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: Here is a classic example of a wine that is showing significantly more complexity and richness from the bottle than out of cask, although it was certainly a potentially outsta...

Wine Spectator: Aromas of currant and sweet tobacco follow through to a full body, with soft, silky tannins and a long, flavorful finish. A little dusty, but lots of fruit and character.-'88/...

Wine Spectator: Offers very ripe, raisiny aromas, with a tobacco and leather undertone. Slightly maderized, but it doesn't bother me. Full-bodied, showing very soft, velvety tannins and a med...

Wine Spectator: ...Blockbuster. Dark ruby color. Intense aromas ofblackberries, currants, cherries and minerals.Full-bodied, very tannic yet velvety in texture.Black licorice and berry charac...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: In comparison to the more open-knit, flattering style of the 1993, the 1994 is a backward, less precocious, more tannic wine that needs another 5-7 years of cellaring. It is a...

Wine Spectator: Balanced and harmonious for the vintage with a cherry, plum and tobacco character, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Delicious now, but best in 1999. 25,000 cases made.

Wine Spectator: Balanced and harmonious for the vintage with a cherry, plum and tobacco character, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Delicious now, but best in 1999. 25,000 cases made.

Wine Spectator: Wonderfully crafted, with mint, blackberry and chocolate aromas. Full-bodied, with loads of berry flavor and velvety tannins. Best after 2001. –JS

Wine Spectator: Extremely well-done. Beautifully aromatic, with coffee, cedar and blackberries on the nose. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a mineral, blackberry aftertaste with medium fin...

Wine Spectator: Aromas of blackberry and currant with just a hint of black licorice follow through to a full-bodied palate, with fine tannins and subtle ripe fruit, giving licorice and minera...

Wine Enthusiast: Ripe wine, with soft tannins allied to great density. Weight and lovely, juicy, final fruit flavors meld together easily. This is solid, dense, impressive and for long-term ag...

Wine Enthusiast: Ripe wine, with soft tannins allied to great density. Weight and lovely, juicy, final fruit flavors meld together easily. This is solid, dense, impressive and for long-term ag...

John Sweeney: Dark ruby at the core with a bright ruby rim. On the nose, this is textbook Bordeaux-black raspberry, cassis, wet rock, cedar and a touch of toasty oak. The palate is medium...

Wine Spectator: Extremely youthful, with plum, black cherry and currant aromas and flavors galore. Very dark colored, with firm tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Each time we taste this i...

Wine Enthusiast: This is an excellent wine, full of ripe fruit and blackcurrant flavors, showing style and elegance in its balancing tannins. It is typical of this property in already showing ...

Wine Spectator: This is stylish, with perfumy black tea and smoldering charcoal aromas followed by lightly mulled plum, fig and blackberry fruit. An echo of juniper shows on the mineral-edged...

Wine Spectator: Focused, with solid bitter cherry, plum and cassis notes framed by judicious toast. Lingering tobacco and iron notes keep this nicely grounded. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. ...