1998 Viader V

Red-ruby. Black cherry, flowers, iron and mint on the nose. Supple on entry, then less sweet in the middle than the proprietary blend; more backward and dominated by its structure. Light notes of meat and tobacco. Clings nicely on the back end, which offers notes of tobacco and black licorice. A sample of the petit verdot component of the '99 bottling showed more fully expressed, riper, more floral black fruit flavors, firm acidity and excellent length. Viader may yet add a pinch of this stuff to the cabernet blend "to add weight to the middle."