Tasted at the "OrindaDave" offline, 01/10/05...

From the first sniff this compelling wine painted a huge smile across my face, and I felt I could taste it hours later on the drive home. The outstanding nose possesses that exotic, hypnotic Haut-Brion essence that is both tremendously perfumed yet sturdy and firm, with notes of stone, plum, earth, smoke, tobacco, and red berries. On the palate the wine carries unreal complexity and depth, with tremendous structure, very fine tannins, and a finish that won’t quit. A very close #2 WOTN for me, 96 Points, drink now or over the next 3-5 years.