Almost as impressive is the 2005 Cabernet Reserve, a blend of 95.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4.5 % Petit Verdot, in this case sourced 58% from Sonoma County and 42% from Napa. Its 14.5% alcohol is slightly lower than its sibling’s. This full-bodied wine is very concentrated, with a saturated bluish/purple color and a classic nose of mocha and espresso intermixed with crème de cassis and charcoal. The finish is a good 40-45 seconds, and the wine has a remarkable vibrancy and freshness from the vintage’s acidity. This is terrific stuff to drink now and over the next 12-15 years.

Even more impressive (than the 2005 Reserve Claret) is the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. Its inky/purple hue is accompanied by aromas and flavors of incense, pain grille, blackberries, blueberries, and cassis. It is a rich, dense, full-bodied, pure, layered effort that should drink well for 15 or so years.

Rich and complex, brimming with dense, opulent yet elegant layers of mocha, black cherry, blackberry and wild berry fruit that's pure, focused, deep and persistent, ending with mouthcoating flavors and ripe, fleshy tannins. Drink now through 2015. 1,291 cases made. –JL

#35 Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2008

The biggest, boldest and most extravagant of Pride's current crop of Cabernets, the Reserve is a wine of immense size and substance with a great sense of depth and a fruity heart to handle its lavish appointment of sweet oak. It may teeter on the brink of being a bit overdone, but, for all of its swagger, it never lets ripeness or oak take the reins, and its themes of concentrated cassis govern its flavors from entry all the way through to its moderately tannic, youthfully gruff finish. Put it away for five years at a minimum, and count on it getting better for up to ten more.

Good full medium ruby. Crushed black fruits, licorice, sandalwood, tobacco and cocoa powder on the nose. Sweet and silky but juicy, with dark fruit and exotic spice flavors offering lovely inner-mouth aromatic character. This has a distinctly briary mountain berry aspect. The longest of (the Pride) offerings, with ripe acidity and rather powerful tannins giving it a big structure.

Medium-dark ruby color; attractive, herbal, cedary, cassis and blackberry fruit aroma with notes of green olive and vanilla; full body; forward, rich, textured, plummy, dark currant and blackberry fruit flavors with a touch of mocha and a pleasing mouthfeel; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Approachable now though deserving another five years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended.