What was a brooding reserved somewhat austere yet classic nose has become highly perfumed with picture perfect aromas of red and black fruits cut with lavish spice and aromatic nuances plus subtle touches of earth soy and hoisin that combine to create a bouquet of simply stunning complexity. The purity and detail are flat out incredible with nuanced multi-layered flavors wrapped in pinot sap and culminating in an awe-inspiring finish. Silk velvet and mouth coating sap completely buffer the ripe structure and this RC possesses what all of the great ones do - absolutely perfect harmony; this is seamless and there are no edges. It is as it were a perfect sphere with a haunting finish that I could taste hours later. This too is destined to be a great wine and the distinguishing aspect of this wine is its virtually unmatched transparency. There is certainly no vintage in the last 20 years with the possible exception of the 1996 that can match it in this regard.

...displays intensely spicy black cherry aromas. Juicy supple as well as packed with spiced candied black fruits this medium-bodied wine is concentrated lush and velvety-textured. It reveals more tannin than its siblings yet it is ripe and enveloped in fruit...