Black cherries, anise and cracked pepper all appear on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is supple and rich, marked by flavors of plum, dark chocolate and spice cake. All those elements linger harmoniously on the long, velvety finish.
A focused laser beam of pure plum and apricot fruit flavors are succulent and fleshy, giving way to details of gunpowder tea, violet and palo santo. The tannins are fine-grained and polished, showing presence on the long finish.
Expressive aromas of cherry, black raspberry and pungent flowers pick up baking spice and mocha nuances with aeration. Pliant, appealingly sweet red and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors are braced by a spine juicy acidity and show impressive clarity. Finishes with strong persistence and smooth tannins lend gentle, final grip.
...polished and a little flashy but, alas, it's hard not to fall for its charms. The oak comes first with vanilla and mocha, then the ripe plums and blueberry fruit, and lastly, swells of savory, earthy spices. The palate is sturdy in frame but silky in texture.