There’s something special about this wine: could it be the hand harvesting and hand sorting of the grapes … the 18-20 months in French and American oak … the 27.5% appassimento grapes herein?  Nope.  I think it’s the way all three have come together.  Nose is deep and rich with cocoa, mocha, chocolate, blackberry, cassis, black cherry, vanilla and cinnamon.  And with aromas like that there’s no way the palate can live up to it, right?  That’s what makes this so special, it does.  Coffee, big black fruit, rich tannins, black raspberry, blackberry, spiced plum, smoky, oaky, toasty – rich, round, ripe and full … a wine this ballsy and food ready is one to be excited about; especially when the linger goes on forever.  All with a barely perceptible 14.7% alcohol.  Impressive.  Price: $34.95 – Rating: **** ½+