Bright red with ruby tones. Very ripe, dark aromas of black cherry, cassis and blueberry, with a violet note emerging with air. Concentrated and thick, with its flavors of blackberry, violet pastille and Sen-Sen lifted by a peppery quality. I find this more harmonious than the 2016 version, and showing much deeper fruit than a sample I tasted from barrel in late 2016.
90 points, Stephen Tanzer, Vinous (Jan 2018)