Medium palish red; less saturated than the 2007. Less fruity and floral and more earthy/spicy on the nose than the `07; exuded notes of red berry liqueur and underbrush with air. Then tighter and more penetrating in the mouth, conveying more force than the `07 and a much more austere texture. Seems large but at the same time lower in alcohol. This very precise, powerfully structured wine finishes dry, long and youthfully imploded, with subtle spice and floral nuances. More classic than the 2007 but also far less agreeable today. forget this one in the cellar for a decade, at which point it may make my early rating look stingy. 93+ points