February 1, 2020
2016 noir - 93 pts from Vinous
Opaque ruby. Deeply perfumed cassis, blueberry, licorice, vanilla and espresso scents pick up a spicy accent with air. Densely packed and appealingly sweet, offering concentrated black and blue fruit preserve, roasted coffee and violet pastille flavors that become more lively on the back half. Shows superb clarity and powerful thrust on the impressively long finish, which features youthfully chewy tannins and an echo of smoky minerality.
Josh Raynolds, Vinous