Full red-ruby. Bright, floral aromas of raspberry, black plum, black cherry and leather. Supple but a bit sullen in the mouth, with unforthcoming flavors of black cherry and shoe polish. Seems a bit less thoroughly ripe than the '97 Hermitage Pied de la Cote. Rather awkward today. A sample of the same wine from a very early bottling (June of '98!) showed a comparatively explosive nose of truffle, smoke and black olive; a more elegant palate impression; and smoother tannins. It, too, was rather closed on the palate. This sample merited an 88 rating.