Interesting to taste this right after the 2009. This is going to be the better wine but will take lots of time and patience (as did the mythical 1990). It is very structured but has all the pieces parts. Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is deep with black cherries, black raspberries, slight bacon fat, black olives, black pepper and spices. Full bodied. Medium to firm tannins. Great balance and acidity. On the palate, this is deep. Flavors of black cherries, black pepper, spice and char. It is hard to coax everything out of it. Long finish. If you can, hold for five to ten and drink for another twenty or more after that. Eventually, this wine will flirt with a perfect score. That said, it is outstanding right now. It will be better with food. A nice choice with spicy meat dishes.
