Pitch black at the core, this wine has a noticeably volatile nose. Licorice and black cherry-pie filling abound in the bouquet. Copious in body, with heady alcohol, it is a turbocharged linebacker. Fortunately, the palate has an unusually scintillating point of acidity, despite the reserved tannins, which allows the finish to linger in notes of baked berries and plums. Its unctuous, bon vivant quality will make lots of friends. Drink now–2018.

— Published (4/26/2017)