Opened 7 hours before serving. This 50/50 Merlot/Sangiovese is dark purple color. Dark cherry, blackberry, with some smoke and a shot of espresso, which evolve in to milk chocolate after an hour in glass. Full bodied, quite powerful yet balanced and elegant, and nice backbone for aging. Smooth and good weight in month. Refined tannin on long finish. 30+ sec. 93 points. Drink it over the next 10 years.

Although this is an excellent wine, I'm still haunted by its ethereal predecessor... the 2000 vintage...

DP