Raven black in color, this wine leads with a reticent nose that needs some time to open. With aeration, it shows licorice, sweet spice, mocha and black plum. The palate shows a touch of development in an attractive note of cigar wrapper. The midpalate is creamy and accessible, with supporting acidity, pleasantly stringy and tugging tannins and a medium-length finish. There’s a hint of warmth on the close, but it is hardly detracting. Drink now through 2019.

— Published (6/11/2015)