2004 Aalto

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Feb 2007
($55) The 2004 Aalto has a far different personality than the 2003. More deeply colored, it is also significantly more expressive aromatically. It reveals pain grille, pencil lead, wild blueberry, black raspberry, and blackberry liqueur notes. Opulent on the palate, it has layer upon layer of ripe fruit, and superb length but is still an infant developmentally. Give this top-flight effort 6-8 years to further evolve and drink it through 2032. 94 points

Wine Spectator, Nov. 2007
This red has plenty of depth, with blackberry, cola, mineral and floral notes lurking under firm tannins, which frame the dense texture. Rich and intense. 90 points

Stephen Tanzer's Int'l Wine Cellar, Sep/Oct. 2007
Deep ruby. Smoky red berry aromas offer striking precision and lift; floral and mineral qualities appear with air, adding a seductive character. Racy and bright in the mouth, displaying an impressive array of concentrated red fruit flavors, with gentle tannins contributing shape. Finishes with impressive cut and persistence. Very suave stuff. 93 points