Bought this on a reco by my fav shop owner in Louisville - said it was 'kickin' - and he wasn't kiddin'. Huge initial nose of char, anise, burnt rubber, and faint traces of red fruit - thank God these notes calmed down w/sufficient glass-time.
Behind the initially un-appealing nose lies a soft, warm blanket of dark cherry and plum notes w/a liqueur-like creaminess; some heat from the EtoH, w/soft, round tannins, and smoky tar accents to the long finish.
Definitely not for the faint of heart, this is a big, lush wine that I'll have to try again after 2-3 hrs. in the decanter. 87 pts. now, w/room to grow. $27-ish, if memory serves me correctly.
