Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 92 points

Totally shut down and enclosed, with an impressively saturated purple/black color and a promising but tightly strung nose of mineral, vanilla, espresso, black cherry and currant, this wine has beautiful purity, medium to full body, relatively high but sweet tannin, and a long 30-35 second finish. The wine is very firm but impressive as well as promising. Patience please! Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020. Last tasted, 11/02.

Review date: January 2003

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: 91 points

Very good saturated ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of black cherry, chocolate and licorice; more crystallized than cooked fruit-as the heat in '95 was not quite like that of 1990, according to Valette. Velvety and chocolatey in the mouth, with very sweet, port-like flavors verging on raisiny. Has the chewy extract to buffer its 13.9% alcohol. Quite perfumed in the mouth, though still a bit tired by the bottling. A huge wine that finishes with substantial but harmonious tannins.

Review date: May 1998