The nose greets you immediately with chocolate, cafe mocha, purple fruits, dark currants, and deep, rich plummy notes, and with a bit of air, pronounced cedar and new oak notes come out, as well as red licorice and sage. On the palate, these turn to flavors of dark cherry and cigar tobacco, and eventually creme caramel and roastier flavors, all of these carried on a texture dusty with the tannins of both the vintage and the oak. Still, with some time to integrate, I expect this wine, with its finish of tea and flowers in the background, to evolve into something quite serious. Hold this for 6 - 10 years, and continue to drink it for another decade after that. RIght now, however, I’d make sure to pop the cork alongside some serious protein and fat--rib eye anyone?