(ST90-92 points) Dark red-ruby. Riper and more expressive on the nose than the Feusselottes but still with a medicinal aspect to its aromas of black cherry and licorice. Denser and finer-grained on the palate, showing a note of redcurrant and an element of mineral lift. The medicinal quality repeats on the back end, but the tannins are rich and smooth. This wine is fatter than the Feusselottes; it's usually the other way around at this early stage.

Subtle notes of VA add lift to the otherwise pretty red currant, cherry, dark raspberry and pretty spice nuances. Once again the small yields are evident as the middle weight flavors possess plenty of sappy dry extract that buffers the moderately firm tannic spine shaping the lingering if slightly warm and dry finish. This appears to have been more obviously affected by the recent bottling and was showing somewhat awkwardly. Note that my rating assumes that this is a passing phase rather than a significant problem.