A maturing and beautifully spicy nose features notes of Asian-style tea, sandalwood, some secondary fruit, hoisin and aromas of both red and black raspberry. There is unusually good density (in the context of the '96 vintage) to the sleek, intense and beautifully stony middle weight flavors that possess both excellent verve and complexity on the wonderfully persistent finish. There is just a trace of the prominent '96 style acidity but it's by no means drying. Though this could certainly be enjoyed now, for my taste I would be inclined to hold it for up to another decade first as there are still some unresolved tannins present on the mildly dusty finale.

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