Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Sep 12 - Josh Raynolds - Alabaster 2010 - 95/100
(malo in new French oak followed by 18 months of aging in more new French oak, where it was racked 4 times before bottling):  Bright purple. High-pitched aromas of blackberry, licorice pastille, incense and mocha, lifted by exotic floral and Asian spice nuances. Dense, primal and penetrating, with intense dark berry and floral character complicated by oak spices and cola.  Finishes extremely long and alluringly sweet, with a fine dusting of tannins that are quickly absorbed by the intense fruit.

Stephen Tanzer's IWC - Sep 2014 - Josh Raynolds - Alabaster 2012 - Bodegas Teso La Monja - $221.00
Alabaster Toro (malo and 18 months of aging in small, new French oak barrels): Bright purple. Deeply scented spice- and smoke-accented aromas of ripe cherries, boysenberry and cassis, lifted by a suave floral element. Shows impressive depth and vivacity to its black and blue fruit liqueur flavors sharpened by juicy acidity; a smoky mineral quality adds another element. Supple, harmonious tannins come on late, adding focus to the sweet, strikingly long, mineral-driven finish.