The Soldier has a brooding dark garnet color with brick red edges. There are aromas of baked blueberry pie, cocoa powder and plum with savory nuances like fresh sage, tobacco leaf and ground coffee. Immediate fruit flavors like dark cherry and currant are accentuated by clove, sage and toasty oak. This is a big wine with tannin that turns from chewy to dusty through the mid-palate. Bright and balanced acidity leads to a complex and structured finish. Drinking beautifully now and has terrific cellaring potential.