The wine was a medium dark purple with no browning. It had a lovely nose of berries and apples, which my wife described as smelling like a bakery. On the palate, the wine is complex, packed with flavors of black fruits and cherries, and still has plenty of tannin, probably a little too much tannin. I'd hold this for another 2-3 years. 93.

I tasted this one in 12/02 from a mag. I agree with you on the nose but it seemed on the decline after that - flat and lacking vibrancy. The person who brought it was dissapointed as it was the last of his mags of this wine.

Did he indicate to you that the previous ones had been better?

Yes, he had 3 total and opened the previous ones in 99 and 2001. I don't remember what he said about those other than he thought that they were better. It was good, not great and just maybe not up to expectations.

Regardless we much appreciated his contribution of a mag of this wine to the tasting. He is very, very generous.