Since this is a best barrel selection from the estate, that proved to be the hardest decision to make in such a great year. Plum and sandalwood scented, the first impression is of deep purple fruits framed by light violet notes. The farming, vine age and block selection has led to a more refined version here, staying very focused on its fruit core and traditional tannic framework. As it opens, the savorier elements start to come out but the wine still stays close to its fruit first nature: pomegranate, sassafras, smoke, rhubarb, incense and crushed raspberries provide a more lifted nature suggesting higher than normal acidity for this dense site. The acid and tannin play off of each other nicely creating the most intellectually interesting Aston Estate to date.