Of course, this is the "It" wine right now as it was just named the Wine Spectator Wine of the Year. It proved to be love or hate at a recent tasting with many rating it as their favorite and a few putting it closer to the bottom. Of course, even the later voters thought it was a fine wine overall. It also proved pretty easy to pick out blind as most or the group was able to. Purple in color with some ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has a strong cotton candy note (others said sweet tarts or "Smarties) along with some cassis. Medium bodied. Light tannins. On the palate, this is sweet cassis. Long finish. It drinks well now on its own and probably better without food. Drink over the next five to seven years. The Caveat, is this is very young. Thomas Rivers Brown is an outstanding winemaker and it would be great to revisit this in a few years to see how it ages.
