[B]oasts an inky ruby/purple color in addition to a sweet nose of black fruits, spice box, creosote, and vanilla. Full-bodied, dense,and chewy, with sweet tannin and well-integrated alcohol.
— Wine Advocate, Dec 2002

Inviting nuanced nose of blackberry, roasted plum, licorice, graphite, dark chocolate and nutty oak. Sweet, lush and generous, with spicy blackberry flavor over a solid spine. Very suave, persistent wine, finishing with fine tannins and strong chocolatey oak...has the signature of a Riccardo Cotarella wine: supple mouth feel, a chewy impression of extract, and rather soft tannins.
— International Wine Cellar, Oct 2003