90 1997 Michel-Schlumberger Dry Creek Valley CS 7/16/04 ($25)
13% alc
Color: Deep garnet with no clearing, looks slightly young.(3.0) Bouquet: Black pepper and rich blackberry preserves. Slightly herbal with firm, but smooth tannins.(3.0) Body: Shows elegance for its size and tannin. Balanced with good fruit, but also firm tannins.(3.0) Flavor: Black pepper is stronger here than in the bouquet, with rich blackberry and pencil shavings.(3.0) Finish: Parallels bouquet, but with a slight alcohol edge. Good length.(3.0)
Overall: Just makes excellent, but should continue to improve with 1-3 years of bottle age. A very enjoyable Bordeaux-style CS. Being critical, it could use more complexity.(15.0)