"Very deep red-ruby color. Sappy, sweet aromas of black raspberry and roasted coffee. Velvety on the attack, then sweet and ripe in the middle palate; seems a bit lighter in acid than some of his other '96's. Explosive, peppery finishing fruit gives an almost saline impression of extract. But a seamless wine, thanks to very ripe, smooth tannins."  Stephen Tanzer, Vinous.com, March 1998