Just received my quarterly installment from Ledson; for those of you not familiar w/this winery, they only sell at the winery and through the mailing list.

General impressions - deep, inky purple/black concoction w/thick, dark legs. Totally opaque (like it should be). Not decanted.

1st night: Tart raspberry, soft oaky nuances, along w/some dark chocolate and hints of spice. Short, warm finish. 85 pts. Vin-vacced and left on the counter.

2nd night: Huge nose of oaky, spicy fruit, dark chocolate/cocoa, a touch of vanilla, and rich black fruit. Full-bodied, creamy black cherry and blackberry fruits; round, firm tannins and bright acidity. Some coffee notes on the warm, mid-length finish. 88-89 pts.

Clearly built for mid-term aging (5-7 yrs. after release), needs a good 6-8 hrs. decanted for it to begin to show its stuff. Room for another point or two w/some more cellar age. I believe I paid $34/ea. for these before the discount.