May 2005 | 92+ points
“(Sussman had more vines in 2003 but still will offer 100 cases less than in 2002, as the crop level was just 1.6 tons per acre) Good bright, saturated ruby. Multidimensional nose combines black raspberry, bacon fat, gunflint, licorice, violet and cracked pepper, with a suggestion of exotic fruits. Dense and layered but rather closed, even a bit youthfully clenched, in the mouth. The flavors are similar to the aromas but the palate has not yet caught up with the nose. Best today on the very long finish. An extremely young wine that needs a few years in the bottle or considerable aeration in a decanter. Quite similar in aromatic character to the 2002, but this may ultimately be deeper.”
–Stephen Tanzer