Deep medium ruby. Pure, lively aromas of blackberry, licorice, dark chocolate and smoked meat. Dense and lush, but with lovely energy and lift to the flavors of currant, licorice and herbs. Really lovely fruit here, with suave, ripe acidity and firm but sweet tannins giving the finish a juicy sweetness not currently displayed by the 2007, which is bigger and more powerful but less showy today.

Intense and at points rustic and chewy, full-bodied and dense, with complex, firm and tannic, giving the dark berry flavors a dry savory edge. Rambles over rough terrain, yet remains complex and alluring. Best from 2013 through 2023. 1,245 cases made.

The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a big, powerful wine loaded with fruit. The tannins are equally imposing. Today the wine comes across as painfully young, but the Reserve has a track record of aging beautifully in bottle, so it will be interesting to see where the 2008 goes over the coming years. Sweet mint, new leather and licorice are some of the nuances that add complexity on the focused, articulate finish. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2028.

Medium-dark ruby; attractive, forward, intense, spicy, complex, black cherry and red berry fruit aroma with notes of cassis, dried herbs, and dark chocolate; full body; big, rich, textured, extracted, chewy, cassis and blackberry fruit flavors with good depth and mouth coating richness; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Deserves several more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended.