Stored in a climate-controlled cellar since purchase upon release. Opened for my wife's birthday, and we just loved it! It seemed totally mature and ready to drink. The nose initially showcases notes of cedar, eucalyptus, forest floor, etc., coupled with bright cherry, cocoa, and mint. Quite expressive in the mouth the entire evening, although it gained weight and depth as well, especially after the 3-hour mark. At this point, red licorice, graphite, and chocolate came to the fore on the nose, followed by a rich and super suave package of red and dark fruits, cocoa, and a distinct and slowly emerging note of brown sugar. My wife said, molten chocolate lava cake." It's complex, but the texture of the wine is what really shined (for us at least), incredibly polished, silky, and velvety. The tannin seems mostly resolved, with little structure really left, leaving a wine that just clings to the palate, especially at the 4-6 hour mark (which is when it was at its best, and what the score reflects). The general flavor profile reminded us of a bottle of '01 Dominus we had last year, though this was not as powerful as that wine (though the Margaux exhibited a more seamless, refined, and polished texture). We saved a glass for the next day: it was still good, but not quite what it was the night before.

Performing better from bottle than at any time in cask (which of course is the objective of great winemaking, isn’t it?), this wine reveals a dense ruby/purple color in a style somewhat reminiscent of the 1988 but with more power, concentration, and volume. It has a beautifully elegant nose of black fruits intermixed with truffle, flower, and oak. The wine is medium to full-bodied, dense, with wonderful precision, freshness, and a long, full-bodied finish with impressive levels of concentration.