Near opaque, this wine smells like a good chocolate shop—cocoa, mocha and ganache abound. With time, some cracked pepper notes turn up along with blackberry and baked black plum. The full-throttle palate teems with succulent black fruits and a blend of spices. High-octane alcohol is noticeable, but it doesn’t overwhelm the wine. Invigorating acidity and lightly grippy tannins give the robust fruit core plenty of support. The mildly mineral finish suggests this has time to evolve nicely in bottle. Drink now–2026.

— Published (1/29/2021)