Deep ruby color. Extremely primary aromas of cassis, dark chocolate and shoe polish, plus a floral nuance and a suggestion of dark berry syrup. Similar flavors in the mouth. Quite firm and solidly structured, but rather dumb and closed in today. Tannins seem a bit more rustic than those of the '97. Hard to assess with confidence today-but then I always find the Etude cabernet a difficult wine to judge in the 12 to 18 months following its release.

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The 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon displays an impressively saturated ruby/purple color, and a tight but promising bouquet of licorice, black currants, and toasty oak. There is more tannin, but it is not intrusive. Fleshy, with fine purity, medium to full body, and a sweet mid-palate and finish, this wine should be cellared for 3-4 years, and consumed over the following 15-20 years.

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