Deep purple red. There is a heap of oak on the nose up front. That doesn't bode well. Cassis and red cherry fighting for attention. Thankfully the barrique note is not completely overbearing in the mouth, but still too much for me. There are tangy toasted cassis. Tannin and acid are well represented, the former quite fine. Overall disappointing. There is too little balance here with the vanilla from the oak attempting a cover up.
