This wine leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination. Its opulent aromas of dark cherries, cassis and briary small fruits are matched for impact by the dark chocolate, licorice, vanilla and sage characters derived from smoky new French cooperage. It's unctuous, long and massively concentrated, especially firm but balanced, leaving a lasting impression of sweet dark fruit liqueur chocolates. It will settle, it will eventually reveal elegance and fineness, but that's about a decade away. (19.2, Drink 2008-2016+). --Jeremy Oliver, 08.01.2001.

The luxury cuvee, the 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Odyssey, spends 38 months in new French oak barrels before bottling. Its dense plum/purple color is accompanied by distinctive aromas of cedar, spice box, black currants, licorice, and a touch of kirsch liqueur and new oak. Full-bodied, highly-extracted, and rich, this large-scaled yet balanced wine can be drunk now as well as over the next 15+ years. Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, June 2001.