Here the wood and menthol influences are a good deal less subtle and while they don't dominate the even spicier and slightly riper liqueur-like cassis, plum and herbal tea aromas, they're certainly in the way. Otherwise the succulent and opulent massively-scaled flavors possess seemingly endless reserves of dry extract that make the mid-palate and finish of this very firmly structured and almost painfully intense effort appear almost pliant. But make no mistake as this too is very clearly built for the very long haul and I wouldn't touch a bottle for at least 15 years and 20 may ultimately prove to be too soon. Allen Meadows