Oakville

Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with cassis, cedar and graphite.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, this is mature although it will still develop.  Flavors of cassis, slight blueberries with slight oak/cedar.  Long  finish.  This is drinking well now and should have another ten to fifteen years.  It is great on its own and will work well with bigger foods.  It would go well with Prime Rib.  

This is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 6& Cabernet Franc and some Petit Verdot and Malbec from Napa.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with cassis, blueberries, black cherries, tobacco, spice and char.  Thick tannins.  Good energy.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is tasty as well as complex.  Flavors of cassis, black cherries, blueberries, chocolate, and spice.  Long finish.  This is a bit youthful but should drink well for another twenty years.  It is great on its own and will work with big foods such as a grilled Ribeye Steak.  

As good as this bottle was, it was not pristine.  It was purchased via auction.  The cork was a bit raised under the foil.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, Mostly opaque but flat (it should have been shimmering bright).  The nose is nice with cassis, milk chocolate, dust and clay.  Great plush texture.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, cassis, blueberries with slight char.   Long finish.  This bottle seemed a bit past peak and with less energy.  That said, it was outstanding and delicious.  Well stored bottles will flirt with a 100 point score.  

This is quite young and tight and needs another five to ten years of good cellaring - minimum.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is very tight.  Showing a bit of cassis, some cherries, spice and char.  On the palate, firm tannins.  Full bodied.  This wine seems shut down for the moment but there are some sweet cherries.  Moderate finish.  This wine has great structure and in due time, should be gorgeous.  This is an expensive wine and should be held for a decade and drunk for twenty to thirty years after that.