VM95+: Saturated deep red-ruby. Superripe aromas of plum, dried herbs, smoke and graphite, with an almost port-like chocolate character and a medicinal austerity. Huge, chewy and deep; still a bit monolithic and unformed today but inundates the palate with a superconcentrated wave of spicy dark fruits. Finishes with mouth-shattering tannins and extraordinary length. This will need a long time in bottle to reach full maturity. This was actually bottled in 2004, but Clerico held it back for an extra year, releasing it only in September of this year owing to its richness and high tannin level. Makes a worthy successor to the outstanding '99, which will be drinkable before this one.