Very good ruby-red. Inky cassis and blackberry aromas given lift by a highly aromatic floral nuance. Superb intensity of flavor and sweetness in the mouth: a real fruit bomb. This is remarkably expressive already and should provide pleasure sooner than the '95. Dense but somehow light on its feet, thanks to bright, framing acidity. Very long, sweet back end. Very impressive potential.

Red-ruby color. Perfumed aromas of dark berries, nutmeg, and nutty, spicy oak. Bright, juicy and tightly wrapped, with excellent flavor intensity and firm but harmonious acids.

Saturated ruby-red. Perfumed aromas of cassis, graphite and toasty oak. Spicy, intensely flavored and tight on the palate; currently dominated by its firm acid/tannin stricture. But quite ling on the back end. Wears its 14.3% alcohol gracefully.

More vinous aromas of dried tropical fruits, honey and nuts. Quite dense and tactile; sweeter than the Paradise Vineyard bottling but also livelier in the mouth, with enough harmonious acidity to frame the thick, tropical fruit. Big, rich and impressive, but distinctly sweet.

Saturated, dark ruby-red. Cassis, violet and charred oak on the nose. Large-scaled and layered in the mouth, with violet and mineral notes and significant power. The oak is not yet integrated. Finishes long and strong, with a firm tannic spine.

Roasted nuts, citric notes and honey on the nose. Lush and sweet on the attack, then surprisingly firm and minerally, with firm acidity giving the wine solid stricture and just enough clarity of flavor. Superripe fruit emerges with aeration.

Bright, spicy aroma of lemon ice. Dense, lush and sweet in the mouth, with nicely integrated acidity. Lingering, slightly sweet finishing flavor is spicy and firm.

More vinous, deeper pitched aromas of dried fruits, game, truffle and hazelnut. Fat, sweet and quite rich, with just enough acidity to maintain its shape. A finishing note of curry powder adds to its appeal.

Ruby-red. Cassis, black cherry and chocolate aromas are purer than those of the above wine. Juicy, fairly intense dark berry flavor; also slightly rigid, but there's plenty of richness here. Finishes with substantial tannins, but also possesses very good buffering fruit.

Red-ruby. Blackberry, cranberry, licorice, fresh herbs and a bit of heat on the nose. Juicy and leanish in the mouth; has sound acidity but could use more pliancy. Tannins turn a bit tough with aeration, but there's also lingering berry flavor.

Deep ruby-red. High-pinched but reticent aromas of dark berries and licorice. Sweet but firm on the palate, with a minerally graphite quality.

Dark red-ruby color. Cassis, black cherry and licorice aromas. Intensely flavored but quite tightly wound today, though the wine's firm acidity is nicely integrated. Currently the fruit is dominated by tannic structure.

Deep ruby-red color. Cassis and blueberry aromas complicated by licorice and floral notes. Somewhat simple berry flavors in the mouth; not especially fleshy or sweet and a bit lacking in generosity of texture. Finishes firm and rather oaky.

Deep ruby to the rim. Moderately full-bodied.Balanced acidity. Moderately extracted. Moderately oaked. Mildly tannic. Red fruits, vanilla, brown spices. Pleasantly aromatic, this wine has a soft and supple entry that sharpens up on the finish with some solid acidity and mild astringence. Well made and flavorful.

Dried fruits, resiny oak and honey on the nose, plus a faint citric quality. Oily, thick and a bit heavy, with elevated alcohol and a slight impression of residual sugar. Finishes with good length, but could use a bit more delineation and cut.

Oily, spicy nose exudes hints of dried fruits, caramel, roasted nuts and lime skin; slight Muscaty character. Rich and textured on entry, but the caramel oak quality dulls the flavors. Slightly tart and dry on the finish.

Deep and opaque blackish purple hue. Full-bodied. Balanced acidity. Highly extracted. Moderately oaked. Quite tannic. Black pepper, tar, black fruits. This youthful wine is still unyielding aromatically, with a tightly wound, compact palate. Firm through the finish with an occassional glimpse at the underlying core of dark, brooding flavors. Though large scaled, its balance bodes well for cellaring.

Medium red. Lively red-currant aroma. Slightly tart red berry fruit offers some restrained sweetness and lingering flavor but only modest shape and structure.

Good dark red. Cassis and game on the nose; a slight fumey quality quickly dissipated with aeration. Good weight and texture in the mouth, but the berry flavor seems rather pinched. Finishes with sweet notes of vanilla and toast, but the tannins are somewhat elevated.

Red berry, coffee and oak spice on the nose. Finishes with very fine, dusty tannins.

Medium red. More subdued but more complex aromas of cherry, dark berries and cola.

Medium red. Cassis, vanilla and toast on the nose; suggestion of hard candy. Similar flavors in the mouth; shows some slightly edgy acids yet seems rather undifferentiated. The tannins are even but slightly dry.

Medium red. Cherry, cranberry, plum, fresh herbs and oak spice on the nose, plus a whiff of celery seed. Finishes with modest tannins and slightly elevated acids.

Ripe and spicy, with a lively core of tangerine, pear, fig and melon. Spicy vanilla-tinged oak adds dimension, and it holds its flavor on the finish. also appeared in 7/31/98 issue

"Crisp and flinty up front, the fruit shows more depth and body at midpalate, with complex pear, peach and spicy oak flavors." also appeared in 7/31/98 issue