These wines were received as trade samples and
tasted single-blind.
SRP:
$35
Dark
ruby color. On the nose: currant jam, tart blueberries, some mocha, violets,
deep loamy soil, sweet vanilla and dark chocolate. On the palate, I like the
combination of tart acid and dusty tannins — the structure is great here. The
cool red currants and tart blueberries come in waves, very clean and pure. I
love the graphite, roasted coffee, underlying tobacco and sage elements.
Complex, it has staying power, somehow both elegant and bold. Includes dashes
of Petite Verdot and Carmenere, aged 18 months in 33% new oak. What a steal for
$35. (91 points)
SRP:
$60
Dark
purple color. Gorgeous nose of blueberry, rich currants, blackberry, rounded
out by cola, vanilla, loamy soil, sweet mocha and a hint of tobacco.
Full-bodied and rich with structured but velvety tannins and some acid for
refreshment. The fruit is layered and complex, with waves of blueberry, red and
black currants and some dark plum jam, then add in the elements of cola, cedar,
espresso, graphite, mint and tobacco. A bold wine but it presents itself well,
chewy and smooth at the same time with a long finish. Shows surprisingly well
but will unfold a lot in the cellar. (92
points)
SRP:
$50
Deep
ruby-purple color. Lovely nose of deep blackberry, boysenberry and currants,
backed up by elements of cola, violets, plum cake and dark chocolate. Great
balance on the palate between the dusty-fine tannins, medium acid and silky
fruit. Flavors of black cherry, currants and roasted fig, mixed in with notes
of vanilla, root beer, but also some loamy soil, black olive, graphite and
charcoal. Complex and offering cellar potential, but oh so delicious now. The
finish is long and smooth and fresh. A blend of 60% Cabernet, 20% Merlot, 10%
Malbec and 10% Petite Verdot, 13.9% alcohol. (91 points)
SRP:
$50
Bright
magenta purple color. On the nose I get lots of blueberry pie, some blackberry
jam, dark roasted coffee and violets. Bold and mouthfilling, glycerin-like with
solid tannins and medium to low acid. The blue and black fruit is bold and rich
and laced with dark coffee, caramel and milk chocolate. A full and fruit-forward
wine with toasted oak and a big punch, but it’s clearly well-made stuff with a
long a rich finish. Needs some time to fully express itself. 80% Cabernet, 16% Merlot, 2% Cab Franc and 2%
Petite Verdot, aged 19 months in 30% new French oak. (87 points)
SRP:
$80
Bright
dark ruby-purple color. Nose of deep currants and black cherries along with cola,
damp earth, sweet violets, caramel and clove. Juicy acid on the palate,
moderately firm tannins, a smooth and enticing mouthfeel. Flavors of roasted
figs, bright currants, black cherries, laced with smoke, graphite, tobacco,
caramel, roasted chestnut and anise. A smoky herbal note on a long finish. Rich
and age-worthy yet it’s smooth, fresh and food-friendly. 18 months in 75% new
French oak barrels. (91 points)
SRP:
$250
Medium
purple color. Nose shows smooth currants and black cherries, rich but nuanced,
along with tobacco and roasted red pepper, root beer and coffee. Firm tannic
structure but they’re not rough around the edges, some medium acid for balance.
The black cherry and red and black currant fruit tastes tart yet rich, and it’s
mixed together with complex cola, sweet red pepper, wet leaves, spearmint,
caramel, dark chocolate and espresso. Very long and creamy onto the finish with
bold toast and vanilla. I’m usually a little hesitant about this level of oak,
but all the other elements are firing, so the oak is somehow restrained in
spite of itself. Delicious right out of the bottle, but don’t think twice about
cellaring this for three to five years and it will probably drink wonderfully
for quite a while. 89% Cabernet and 11% Merlot aged 18 months in 81% new French
oak. (93 points)
SRP:
$75
Medium
purple color. Aromas of deep blueberries, black currants and dark plums,
underlined by caramel, mocha, anise, black magic markers with notes of graphite
and. On the palate, solid tannins but they’re not too rough, medium acid, the
fruit is rich and chewy (blackberries, currants, dark plums). Significant oak
influence but it’s complemented with complex notes of pencil shavings, dark
roast coffee, brown sugar, black magic marker. Smooth but rich on the finish, this
is a big wine that needs time to mellow out, but it’s a beauty with a lot of
depth and purity. 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8%
Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, aged 19 months in 90% new French
oak.
(92 points)
SRP:
$60
Medium
purple color. Nose of dark plums, boysenberry and blackberry sauce, sweet
caramel, chocolate and some scorched earth. Velvety and rich on the palate with
moderate and dusty tannins and medium acid. Blueberries, blackberries and
cassis on the palate, slightly roasted and jammy but the wine doesn’t taste
hot. I get a mix of espresso, roasted chestnut, dark chocolate, campfire pit
and wood shavings. The finish is creamy, rich and long. A deep and concentrated
wine but it’s still easy to drink, although I’d gladly cellar this for two to
five years to see it unwind. 100% Cabernet aged 28 months in 50% new French
oak. (90 points)
SRP:
$75
Vibrant
purple color. Smells of plums, currant jam, sweet pipe tobacco, loam and cedar.
Structured tannins, a smooth and velvety mouthfeel with medium to medium-plus
acid. The red and black currant fruit is juicy and fresh, add in some
blackberry sauce, anise and cola. I also get a note that reminds me of mossy
rocks and wet leaves, which I love. Long, refreshing finish with lingering
vanilla cola and cedar shavings. Beautiful now but should age nicely over the
next five years or so. Aged 26 months in French oak and two years in bottle,
includes 4% Merlot. (90 points)
SRP:
$20
Jammy
blueberries, rich raspberry jam, sweet roses and red licorice on the nose. Rich
and open on the palate with significant tannins but medium to low acid. High
octane, but very pretty, with sweet raspberry and blueberry flavors, doused
with mocha, anise cookies, caramelized sugar and toasted oak. Bold but juicy
and easy to drink at the same time. Ready to go but will do nicely over two or
three years. Cabernet and Merlot. (89
points)
SRP:
$22
A
deep purple-violet color. Tight on the nose, takes time to coax out the
blueberry pie, blackberry jam, hints of mocha and caramel as well. Fleshy on
the palate with blueberry and blackberry jam, supported by grippy tannins, a
bit low on the acid for my palate. Notes of wet leaves, milk chocolate and
cedar linger onto the finish. Perhaps it’ll smooth out a bit over the next year
or two, but I’m not sure about cellaring it for very long. 91% Cabernet, 8%
Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot aged 16 months in 30% new oak. (85 points)
SRP: $20
Dark plum and black cherry aromas, mixed with
smoke, roasted coffee, some violet and lavender notes. Fleshy on the palate,
with ripe red and black fruits, supported by dusty-fine tannins and medium+
acidity. I really like the sleeker approach of 2011 here, seems to show more
nuance and freshness. Espresso and cedar undertones, a hint of tobacco. Very
well-put together with a long, tart finish. Includes 8% Cab, 8% Malbec and 2%
Syrah. (90 points)
SRP:
$42
An
earthy-ruby color in the glass. Lush nose of dark plums and currants, some
loamy soil and mocha, some dried rose potpourri and tobacco notes. Rich and
velvety but balanced and clean at the same time, with refreshing acid and solid
tannic structure. Lovely berry compote, tart black currants, mixing with cedar,
fallen leaves, moss and shaved dark chocolate, all sorts of complexities. Some
sweet mocha and vanilla on the creamy and long finish. Lovely in so many ways,
but don’t worry about burying this in the cellar and forgetting about it for a
while. (90 points)
Aromas of red and black currants and cherries,
tart but full, with notes of loamy soil, violets and a hint of black olive. On
the palate, this wine shows fine-grain tannins of medium strength, with some
tang from the acid. The berry and plum fruit is bright but rich, and laced with
complex notes of smoke, earth, vanilla and loamy, rocky soil. Showing some
potential for the cellar, although it’s fine to drink now, maybe with a few
hours in the decanter. Includes 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 3%
Cabernet Franc, aged 18 months in 25% new French oak. (91 points)
