A major league Cabernet, capable of extended aging. Blended with a few drops of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it shows massive flavors of blackberries, cassis, dark chocolate and sweetly smoked cedar wood. Just superb and delicious, but tannic and locked down in astringency. If you can keep your hands off it, cellar this beauty. It should begin to come into its…
— S.H.
(6/1/2012)
Black as night, with massively oaky aromas and equally powerful black-currant notes, this is clearly a big, young Cabernet. It delivers fresh, complex flavors ranging from blackberries to coffee, dark chocolate, tobacco and sage. Feels fabulously rich in the mouth now, although solid tannins suggest aging through 2008. Cellar Selection. —S.H.
— S.H.
(12/31/2002)
A great wine that combines the modern, ultraripe winemaking style with Rutherford’s fine, complex tannins and herbs. Feels plush and velvety in the mouth, exploding in blackberry, cherry, cassis and chocolate flavors grounded with sweet sage. An ager. Beautiful now through 2012, at least.
— S.H.
(3/1/2009)
Lush, plush and full-bodied, this Cabernet-based Bordeaux blend is showy in the way of Napa Valley. It has well-developed flavors of black currants, black cherries, lavender and smoky oak, with a dusting of anise and pepper. Fine now and through 2013.
— S.H.
(6/1/2009)
Tastes austere and aloof now, with the core of black cherry and blackberry fruit cut off by an encircling army of spear-tipped tannins. But very finely structured, dry and classic, just waiting to express its inner beauty. One for the cellar. Give it 6–7 years to begin to come around.
— S.H.
(5/1/2011)
This softly delicious, complex wine is one of the reasons why Pinot Noir has soared in popularity lately. Made from the Dijon clones that give such fruity wines in California, it’s filled with raspberry, cherry and smoky cedar flavors, with the silky elegance you want from this variety. Drink this flashy wine soon, to fully appreciate the youthful fruit.
— S.H.
(6/1/2012)
Soft, ripe and totally voluptuous, showing gorgeously ripe fruit and tannins. Seductive and delicious. Doesn’t seem built for the long haul, but defines Rutherford’s red stone fruit, and slightly earthy appeal.
— S.H.
(9/1/2006)
Dark, ripe and tannic, it’s an ager, but there’s something about it now that’s instantly appealing. It is a dry wine but with a honeyed sweetness and glyceriney richness. Oozes blackberry, lead pencil, currant, cedar and mocha flavors leading to a long, balanced finish.
— S.H.
(12/15/2006)