Bright medium ruby. Cool expressive aromas of blackberry black raspberry dark chocolate espresso and cola the oak seems more successfully integrated than in most of the other Penfolds releases. Intensely flavored and firmly built with lovely ripe acidity initially wanted a bit for flesh but grew lusher and sweeter with aeration. Finishes with tongue-dusting fine tannins and noteworthy persistence.

Black. Very aromatic: blackberry, currant, black pepper, cedar/mint, complex and fine. Lots of red and purple stone fruit, with lush, fine tannins. Very dry. An elegant, somewhat austere wine needing time and food to showcase its stuff.

A beguiling combination of rich, almost decadentflavors on an upright frame that has a nicelyburied backbone of acidity and tannin. Nothing isobtrusive, everything is in graceful balance,leaving an ultimate impression of both muscle andflesh. Best after 2002. 6,600 cases imported. –HS