California Wine

Expert Reviews

92 Points Connoisseurs Guide | The most complex of the Stag's Leap lot, this fascinating effort is simply brimming with ripe cherries and very rich oak and shows intriguing touches of leather, coffee, cocoa and caramel throughout its length. It is fairly full and broad on the palate with fine balance and a mannerly, well-polished feel, and, if a slight touch of last-minute tannin jumps up at its finish, there is no doubt that a few years in bottle with smooth things out completely. 

91 Points Int'l Wine Cellar | Bright, full ruby-red. Aromas of dark raspberry, dark chocolate and cola. Bigger and broader than the Fay but with less obvious early sweetness. Very ripe, spicy flavors of dark chocolate, espresso and coffee offer noteworthy depth. Spreads out horizontally to coat the palate on the back end, finishing with dusty, fine, building tannins 

90 Points Wine Enthusiast | There’s a fruity, blackberry and cherry core, with a coffee and dill herbaceousness and plenty of oak. It’s soft, but should develop well, and could eventually surprise. Try holding until 2010. 

Critic Notes

97 Pts | Jeb Dunnuck writes:  The top Cabernet is the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch, which comes all from the Howell Mountain AVA. It's another inky colored beauty boasting a terrific perfume of black and blue fruits, ground herbs, spice box, graphite, and forest floor. With brilliant minerality on the palate as well as full-bodied richness and an expansive, opulent texture, it has sweet tannins and is approachable today, yet will benefit from short-term cellaring and cruise for 25-30 years. It's one of the few 2017s to come close to its 2016 counterpart. Bravo!  Drinking 2024 to 2054.  Jeb Dunnuck 97

95+ Pts | Lisa Perrotti-Brown writes:  Bottled only three weeks ago, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch is composed of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 1% Merlot, having spent 22 months in 60% new French oak. Very deep garnet-purple in color, it reveals beautiful notions of kirsch, red and black currant preserves, raspberry pie and warm plums with hints of red roses, stewed tea, underbrush and cinnamon stick. Medium-bodied, the palate has wonderful red fruit and floral intensity intermingled with black fruits, framed by firm, grainy tannins and a wicked backbone of freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced. Very different from the epic 2016 Dancing Bear, but very exciting!  Drinking 2020 to 2038.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95+

93 Pts | Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear ranch is a gorgeous Howell Mountain red. Succulent black cherry, plum, licorice, spice, new leather, rose petal and blood orange all run through this deep, resonant, unctuous Cabernet Sauvignon from Cakebread. This is a very pretty wine.  Drinking 2022 to 2032.  - Vinous 93

James Suckling writes:  Polished, intense aromas of ripe blackcurrant, blackberry jam, pine and walnut. It’s full-bodied with tight, fine-grained tannins. Rich wood-spice and stewed-fruit flavors. 89% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc and 1% merlot. Drink now.  - James Suckling

James Molesworth writes:  Lively, with currant, plum and loganberry notes mixed with light bramble and licorice root accents. Fairly open in feel for Howell Mountain, with just a light tarry edge holding the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Drink now through 2026.   - Wine Spectator 

Winemaker Description

Winemaker Description

2017 Timeless Napa Valley is a harmonious wine that deftly balances elegant integration of both high acidity and supple fruit to create a wine with ageworthy structure and character. Notes of pomegranate and cherry on the nose are met by subtle aromas of wisteria, licorice and mint. Carried by essences of rose, plum and tart red fruit, a mouthwatering ripple of bright acidity meets delicate tannins and balancing, savory flavors of minty balsam, cozy mulling spices and stewed black fruits on the palate. 

Expert Review

Wine Spectator 93 Points | This is richly layered, with cassis, crushed plum and blackberry puree flavors moving through slowly but steadily, while warm earth, ganache and black licorice notes follow along. Picks up a tarry edge on the finish as the fruit takes an encore. For fans of the muscular, fruit-driven style. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2036. (2018). 

Wine Advocate 97 Points | The 2018 Insignia is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. The vineyard sources this year include: 30% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District),18% Yountville (Oak Knoll District), 13% Banca Dorada (Rutherford), 18% Suscol (South Napa Valley), 14% Home Ranch (St. Helena), 12% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District), 7% Barboza (Stags Leap District). It was aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes storming out of the glass with powerful notes of blackcurrant cordial, stewed black plums and boysenberries, plus hints of cedar chest, graphite, menthol and wet slate with a fragrant waft of clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate already demonstrates remarkable balance at this youthful stage, featuring a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the tightly wound, crunchy black fruits, finishing long and spicy. (2018).

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | Very much in the style of the vintage with its pure, concentrated, yet also elegant and focused style, the 2018 Insignia offers up a vivid purple hue to go with lots of red and blue fruits, menthol, tobacco, graphite, and distinct minerality. With an almost Bordeaux-like style, medium to full-bodied richness, present tannins, and a great finish, it's a beautiful, classic Cabernet Sauvignon blend from this team that's going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades or more. (2018). 

James Suckling 99 Points | Blackberry and black chocolate with mint, conifer and clove. Sweet tobacco, violets and flowers, too. Some graphite. Cool and complex. Full-bodied with ultra fine, dusty tannins and a wonderful, extremely long finish. Savory and refined. A classic-styled 2018. This needs time, but is so approachable and gorgeous. One of the best Insignias ever. Alive and changing all the time. 40% Stags Leap AVA. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 8% petit verdot, 3% malbec and 2% cabernet franc. Leave this for five or six years, but so wonderful now. (2018). 

Expert Review

Vinous 93 points The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Fellom Ranch is the most reticent of the Arnot-Roberts Cabernets. Intensely savory and earthy, the 2018 offers quite a bit of intrigue, but it will require considerable cellaring. Cedar, spice, tobacco and dried herbs lend notable complexity to the dark fruit flavors. The natural concentration of small berries with little juice and high solids gives the wine its dense, brooding feel. (AG) 93+  

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 95 Points | The 2019 Pinot Noir Estate Scallop Shelf is a nervy, tense wine that is going to need a number of years to come into its own. This is an especially savory, mineral Pinot, with the fruit moved more into the background. Lavender, rose petal, mint, sage and crushed rocks linger in this vivid, exceptionally polished Pinot Noir from the Peay family.

Wine Advocate 94 Points | The 2019 Estate Pinot Noir Scallop Shelf has a perfume of red berries, dried flowers, blood orange and potpourri with earthy undertones. The palate is seriously styled, with a grainy tannic frame, seamless freshness, broody, earth-laced fruits and a long, spiced finish. I'd give this another year or two in bottle. 600 cases produced.
 
Vinous 94+ Points | The 2019 Pinot Noir Estate Scallop Shelf is a nervy, tense wine that is going to need a number of years to come into its own. This is an especially savory, mineral Pinot, with the fruit moved more into the background. Lavender, rose petal, mint, sage and crushed rocks linger in this vivid, exceptionally polished Pinot Noir from the Peay family.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points - Editors' Choice | This classic-style, elegant wine is well structured for further aging and so expressive of the Napa Cabernet tradition. Aromas of blackberries, black olives and bay leaves lead to black cherries, dark chocolate and tobacco flavors that are deep and persistent without being heavy. Drink from 2028–2038.

James Suckling 95 Points | Aromas of blackcurrant, hazelnut and chocolate, with hints of mint and sage that follow through to a medium to full body, with wonderful soft and fine tannins that give a velvety texture and persistent finish. So balanced and refined. Subtle. Didn’t include wine from vineyards in Atlas Peak this year. An excellent 2020. Drinkable, but will improve so well in the cellar.

Decanter 94 Points | The 2020 Lyndenhurst Produced by Spottswoodee. NV CS 13.6% // Civic Ruby colour with loads of savoury cedar spices, cinnamon and tobacco brown baking spices and red-toned fruits. Supple on entry with plump red berry fruit, tangy blood orange acidity under a bed of tobacco leaves, fragrant wild herbs, milk chocolate shavings and a kiss of anise. There is telltale crushed stone minerality, and the wine finishes long and lean with plenty of energy and drive. The tannins are burly with good grip. And the wine is generally light on its feet.

Wine Spectator 91 Points | Solidly built for the vintage, with a core of blackberry and black currant preserves that flex brambly energy and grip, along with licorice root, chaparral and apple wood notes filling in on the finish. Drink now through 2030. 2,205 cases made.

Winemaker Notes

This Napa Valley Merlot is sourced from a combination of high elevation mountain sites as well as wonderful benchland vineyards around the valley. Freemark Abbey blends in a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon for structure and balance. The wine opens with aromas of ripe plum, blueberry, milk chocolate and cedar. The palate is met with flavors of wild raspberry, bramble fruits, allspice, cinnamon, dry herbs, and oak spice.

The textures are supple yet vibrant with well-integrated tannins that drink beautifully now on its own or paired with a wide range of dishes.

Winemaker Description

Don Miguel Vineyard. Named after the late patriarch of the Torres family, this organic vineyard is located in the Green Valley- the coolest, foggiest region of the Russian River, only ten miles from the Pacific. Displays vibrant, luscious fruit reminiscent of blackberries and dark cherries.

This is a wine of precision, finesse and balance, rich and opulent on the palate, with supple tannins. It will continue to develop and gain complexity with age, at least for another 10 years. 

Winemaker Description

The 2019 Adaptation Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous expression of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from a superb vintage. Revealing blackberries, black currants, crème de cassis, with hints of espresso, cocoa powder, and fine gravely undertones, this seamless full-bodied wine carries remarkable freshness and purity, delivering up front appeal with long-term potential.

Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | Coming mostly from the Oso Vineyard in Pope Valley, but with fruit from sites throughout the Valley, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 2% Petite Sirah that spent 18 months all in French oak. Red and black fruits, spicy herbs, chocolate, and hints of leather all shine here, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a round, layered mouthfeel. (2019).

Robert Parker 91 Points | An offering from Odette, Adaptation's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon features a nice mix of red and black fruits—cherries and cassis—plus hints of vanilla and cedar. It's medium to full-bodied but easy to drink and not overly rich or textured, but it's nicely balanced, with a long, mouthwatering finish. (2019). 

Winemaker Description

The Pinot Project Pinot Noir offers notes of dark cherry, blackberry, and cacao with a smooth, lingering finish. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. 

Expert Review 

91 Points Wine Enthusiast - Best Buy | A supple Pinot Noir with beautiful fruit, you can drink it on its own, or pair with your favorite meal and people. This one has aromas of garnet colored ripe strawberry, dark cherry, pomegranate cranberry, Orange Julius goodness and five spice. It has silky tannins and a mouthwatering finish.

Winemaker Description

We create the conditions for making Late Harvest Zinfandel by allowing the grapes to hang on the vine approximately 3--4 weeks after they normally would be picked for a dry wine. These grapes were picked on October 30th on a beautiful Fall day, and the grapes arrived at the winery at 40° Brix of sugar. We crushed the grapes into a small 1,500-gallon tank and as is our tradition at Dashe Cellars, we fermented the grapes naturally, using the native yeasts that naturally live on the skins of the grapes. We let the grapes macerate to gain color and flavor, and then allowed the tank to warm.

The fermentation took off quickly, and then naturally halted when the alcohol had reached about 15.5% and the sugar level was about 9%. We always allow the wine to achieve its balance of sweetness and alcohol naturally, by letting the fermentation finish on its own.

The wine was aged in older French oak barrels so as to not overpower the intensity of the fruit. We bottled the wine as soon as possible to maintain its fresh fruit flavors and conserve its sweet concentration and purity. The wine is unfined and received minimal handling to the bottle.

Winemaker Description

Full of spice and red and black fruit notes of cherry and blackberry. Round and complex on your palate, you will find in this wine a richness that belies the wine’s healthy attributes.

A great choice for salmon or swordfish, poultry or pork. It also pairs well with many vegetables and legumes, including: mushrooms, lentils, broccoli or turnips. Excellent with a soy-based vegetable stir fry.

Sustainable, zero-sugar, low carb, vegan-friendly, gluten free.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

94 points Wine Advocate | The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Fay Vineyard features lovely cherry fruit, interwoven with strands of dried herbs, hints of black cherries and a touch of vanilla. It's medium to full-bodied, round and generous yet focused, showing typical Cabernet restraint and structure, then finishing with gentle, silky tannins and a big, highly enjoyable whack of cassis."

94 points James Suckling  | Aromas of crushed blackcurrants and cocoa-dusted black cherries with purple flowers and chocolate undertones. Full body. Broad and opulent with compact, plush and well-integrated tannins. Attractive succulence and finesse with a firm, lingering finish and notes of bitter spices and violets to close."

91 points Jeb Dunnuck | The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Fay comes from a single vineyard in the Stags Leap District and is based on 98% Cabernet Sauvignon with 2% Cabernet Franc. Beautiful cr me de cassis, spring flowers, violets, and chalky mineral notes emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with beautifully integrated background oak, ripe tannins, and a great finish."

90 points Wine Spectator | Packs a core of boysenberry and plum puree notes, coated with melted licorice and backed by sweet toast on the finish. Offers a fine-grained feel, with a subtle tug of earth at the end. Drink now through 2035."

Winemaker Description

Since its inception, Claret has been the crown jewel of the Diamond Collection. This year’s Claret reflects a diversity of varietals and vineyards whose soils contribute to the wine’s complexity.

Diamond Collection wines are made from grapes grown across California and are carefully combined to create wines perfect for all occasions – including those special just because ones. 

Expert Rating

92 Points Tasting Panel | Packaged in a bottle wrapped in gold netting, this Cabernet Sauvignon-based red possesses an Old World essence with aromas of boysenberry and balsamic. But California sunshine douses the palate lined in slate, black pepper, and fennel, adding to the wine's character with ripe black plum, dark chocolate, and mulling spices. A creamy texture arises midway and melts across the mouth.

Winemaker Description

Classic Purisima Mountain Vineyard Syrah aromas and flavors of black fruits, chocolate, game, pepper, and smoke are ripe and intense in the 2020 vintage. Very ripe, fine tannins frame the bold flavors and rounded texture. Somehow through all the heat, our fruit retained beautiful acidity which balances out the bold and rich flavors creating an awesome vintage of Purisima Mountain Vineyard Syrah with classic texture and structure.

Expert Rating 

92 Points Jeb Dunnuck | Blueberries, mulberries, peppery herbs, and some flower notes all emerge from the 2020 Syrah Purisima Mountain Vineyard, a medium to full-bodied, fruit-forward, plush, sexy little gem of a Syrah that will offer loads of pleasure over the coming 4-6 years or more. This was completely destemmed and brought up in 35% new French oak. (2020). 

Winemaker Description

This wine is generous and complex with aromas of cherry cola, cassis and chocolate. Some savory notes and hints of citrus zest and mint. This wine is intensely aromatic and develops in the glass as layers are revealed. This full-bodied wine is powerful yet exhibits grace and finesse. A rich and dense mid-palate evolves into a muscular and graceful finish.

Expert Review

Vinous 97 Points | The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tomahawk Vineyard is fabulous. Rich, dense and explosive, the Tomahawk possesses tremendous balance and class. Inky and resonant in the glass, the 2018 builds over time as the layers open. Raspberry jam, blood orange, mint, cinnamon, cedar and new leather add the closing shades of complexity. In 2018, the Tomahawk is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. (2018). 

Winemaker Description

Aromas of wild berries and forest floor, a weighty mid-palate and long silky finish.

Expert Ratings

James Suckling 97 Points | Gorgeous aromas of plums and currants with some wet earth, mushroom, bark and incense undertones. Woody. Medium-to full-bodied with such beautiful depth and length. So subtle and long. Fabulous harmony. One of the best I have ever tasted. Drink or hold.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | The 2018 Napanook showed incredibly well, with fabulous crème de cassis, spring flowers, graphite, and green tobacco aromas and flavors. With terrific ripeness, medium to full body, and ripe, yet polished tannins, this beauty should be snatched up by savvy readers. It should evolve for 15 years or more. The blend is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, aged in 20% new French oak.

Robert Parker 93 Points | Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Napanook leaps from the glass with vivacious scents of fresh blueberries, black cherries, crushed blackcurrants and redcurrant jelly with hints of pencil shavings, red roses and dusty soil plus a waft of bay leaves. Medium-bodied, the palate is very tightly wound, allowing glimpses at loads of mineral and savory nuances among the taut black and red fruit notes, supported by fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing with a compelling herbal lift.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Tightly packed, with red and black currant and cherry reduction notes compressed with sanguine, iron and singed cedar streaks. The long, finely tuned finish has a mouthwatering echo. Approachable, but no rush. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2032.

Winemaker Description

Ripe cranberry and cassis on the nose. Focused dark bramble fruit on the palate, layered with cocoa and clove. Vibrant acidity balances beautifully with opulent fruit and carries through to a long and elegant finish.

Blend: 69% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet, 1% Mataro

Expert Ratings

96 Points Decanter | Enormously complex and full of personality. Lots of juiciness and briaryness, with notes of espresso, soy sauce and gaminess. Very rich, impressive and structured, 2020 was Ridge’s 55th consecutive vintage of Geyserville, a wine that many Ridge collectors consider the winery’s best Zinfandel blend. Its pedigree is uncontested. Made from old vines, some of which are more than 125 years old and 60% of which are 50 years old or older, leading of course to tiny yields. A historic field blend of approximately 69% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro (the old name used in California for Mourvedre). The grapes are grown in three adjoining vineyards, all of which are defined by an ancient washout of the Russian River that carried and deposited gravel and river stones to the site.

95 Points Points Wine & Spirits |  The founding partners at Ridge purchased the MonteBello Winery from Leo and Evelyn Trentadue, who also farmed some of the oldest surviving vines in Sonoma County at their ranch on the Alexander Valley floor near Geyserville. The Old Patch, planted in the 1880s, has provided the base of the blend for Ridge’s single-vineyard wine since 1966. In 2020, it was harvested just as the first fires brokeout generations of vines at the Trentadue’s ranch provided 28 different lots, with John Olney selecting 20 for this wine. He finds that carignan, which makes up 20 percent of the mixed planting (along with small amounts of petite sirah, alicante bouschet and mataro), provides the acidity to refresh the zinfandel, which accounts for 69 percent of the vines. The early harvest produced a ripe, rich Geyserville with racy energy. The dark blueberry flavors are layered with red cherry, their seemingly weightless concentration sustained in a sleek, clean and graceful impression that lasts. A great 2020

Tasting Panel 95 Points | An opulent, charming blend of 69% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet, and 1% Mataro. Ultra-smooth and seamless, with rich flavors of plum and blackberry. Stunning and long, it’s a triumph of winemaking skill.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Deeply structured and briary, with a mix of red and black fruit accented by licorice, dill and savory underbrush flavors. Finishes with medium-grained tannins. Zinfandel, Carignan, Petite Syrah, Alicante Bouschet and Mataro.

Expert Rating

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points | Quite inky in the glass, this bottling is loaded with thick, dark-fruit aromas of black plum, cassis and violet, as hints of cocoa arise slowly. It lands with a force on the palate, providing lively while powerful and offering fresh fruit and flower flavors as well as a dried meat and tarry earth backbone. 

Winemaker Description

Camins 2 Dreams is a winery designed by two women with a creative desire to produce natural wines, utilizing the best sustainably and organically farmed grape cultivars available. Business and life partners Tara Goméz

Expert Ratings

Winemaker Description

Scharffenberger Brut Excellence is made by the traditional méthode champenoise process – whereby the wines are individually bottle-fermented before being riddled and disgorged. The wine is approximately two-thirds Pinot Noir and one-third Chardonnay and undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation. Scharffenberger Brut is made from its own 120-acre vineyards in the Anderson Valley. In addition, Scharffenberger Cellars has long-term contracts with select vineyards in the greater Mendocino County. This type of vineyard selection allows us to choose from the best vineyards in the area which enables us to produce their trademark cuvée.

The wine is two-thirds Pinot Noir which produces a red fruit (cherry and plum) forward nose combined with one-third Chardonnay which adds the tropical expression of litchi nut and mango. The 100% malolactic fermentation adds a vanilla cream character producing a round and full-bodied wine. After approximately two years on the yeast lees, there are notes of freshly baked bread and pastry that enhances the more fruit-forward style of the wine. Finally, after several months on the cork the wine develops caramel and hazel complexors.

Expert Ratings

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points | Made by Elias Fernandez in partnership with Doug Shafer, this red totally rocks in smoky toasted oak and a tease of char. Intense and electrifying, it offers rich layers of dark cherry, clove and dried herb. It's bulky and substantial while preserving a sense of grace, with a backbone of supportive refreshing acidity. 

James Suckling 91 Points  | So much violet and other flowers with purple fruits. Full body, firm and velvety tannins and bright acidity. Salty and tangy finish. Lively. Some tar and raspberry.

Winemaker Description

Malbec is a newcomer to Napa Valley and Eighty Four has been loving the challenge of taking on something new. From initial fermentation they were pleased by the wine’s deep color and soft, supple vibrancy. The wine aged for 20 months in 75% new oak to allow it to take on a bit of heft and richness and to speak purely of its varietal character, a generous mix of black and red fruit.

Expert Rating

93 Points Wine Spectator | A wine that suggests a sense of place, this is refined and just a hint rustic, which adds to the authenticity. Notes of cherry and pomegranate are laced with hints of white pepper and bay leaf. Drink now.

Winemaker Description

Located at 1000 to 1200 ft., the vineyard overlooks upper Chiles Canyon and remnant walls of the grist wills built by pioneer J.B. Chiles. Brooding dark purple plum raspberry flavors dotted with sage and black peppercorns.

Our Professional Review

Rand S. & David W of 67Wine.com | This is considered a very rare California boutique sauvignon blanc.  It is highly sought after for those seeking a very special wine.  Realm makes some of the most sought after wines out of Napa and their Sauvignon Blanc is one of the finest expressions in the valley.

You will find tropical fruit notes including lemon, tangerine, and a hint of peach.  Great wine. It is not grassy but rather soft on the palate. Very elegant, balanced and not over ripe. Staff tasted & recommended.   

Winemaker Description

Guided by the idea that “less is more,” this wine is dry and fresh, with crisp fruit flavors and bright minerality. Some of their grapes come from family vineyards in Napa Valley, with the majority coming from Suisun Valley, a “hidden gem” wine region only a short drive from Napa. Suisun shares a similar maritime climate and produces exceptional fruit. Their farming practices enable us to create a wine that is not overly ripe – while also not herbaceous – featuring low alcohol and bright acidity.

Winemaker Description

This delicious, versatile wine begins with aromas of blackberry, rose hip, dried cranberries and hints of boysenberry followed by notes of violets and crushed spices.

On the palate, the wine begins with a soft, dense, lush, tannin structure supported by flavors of red berry fruit, subtle acidity and a long flavorful, vanilla finish.