Wine Spectator: 95 points

Shows such wonderful clarity and class on the nose, with crushed raspberries, blackberries and just a hint of flowers. Full-bodied, with layers of ultrafine tannins and a long, long finish. Fantastic. Just coming around.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2008. 7,500 cases made.

Review date: January 2007

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: 90 points

Dark ruby, not quite as saturated as the '96. Expressive, sauvage aromas of black raspberry, cassis, smoke, leather and coffee; even riper than the '96. Supple and sweet in the middle palate, with terrific flavor intensity and lovely framing acidity. But a bit brutal on the back end, with substantial, somewhat tough tannins that call for six or seven years of bottle aging. The combination of lively acids and serious tannins give this wine a slightly spiky quality today.

Review date: May 1998