($245) Saturated ruby. Rich, superripe, captivating aromas of black cherry, chocolate, truffle, earth and sexy oak spices. Impressively supple, rich and seamless, like a liquid confection. This is almost too big for the mouth and yet there's no impression of excess weight. Finishes with wonderfully sweet, palate-dusting tannins and slow-building length. Perhaps atypically sweet for a wine from this property but I'm not complaining. This almost made the excellent '01 seem lean in comparison.

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The perfect score does not surprise me since I had given this wine a three-digit rating after bottling. However, I was surprised by how evolved and complex the 2002 has become. Compared to some of the other high scoring 2002s, Sloan's offering seems to be on a faster evolutionary track. There is nothing wrong with that, but based on this one bottle, this blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot can be drunk now or cellared for another 10-12 years. I do not think it will be one of the blockbuster, extremely long-lived wines of the vintage, but I could be wrong, because everything is in perfect balance. It offers a dense plum/garnet/purple color, a sweet nose of roasted espresso, chocolate, spring flowers, blackberries, black currants and new saddle leather, an opulent, voluptuous texture, gorgeous, layered flavors, lots of glycerin, sweet, silky tannin and a phenomenal finish. If you own any of this beauty, don't hesitate to drink it.

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Flirting with perfection, as the fruit is absolutely gorgeous, seemingly flawless, with its tremendous silky texture, layers of currant, black licorice, blackberry and wild berry fruit. Despite all its richness, depth and complexity, it ends on a plush note, with ripe, fine-grained tannins. 420 cases made.

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Fantastic.