The color of this wine is a dark, deep reddish-black, while the nose has mouth-watering aromas of chocolate, cassis and spicy oak. The palate reflects the nose with distinctive and typical cabernet flavors of cassis and mocha complemented by cinnamon-like spices and vanillin from the oak. The palate is firm but elegant with tannins fine-grained and adding to the lingering flavors. The wine was aged in predominantly French (67%) - balance American oak. We used 70% hogsheads and 30% barriques. 78% of the barrels were new and the balance once and twice used. This wine has a long life ahead of it, given good cellaring. It will show increasing complexity and roundness over the years. While it will go beyond 10 years, it will probably reach its peak by about 2008.