"Beautiful color, with vivid boysenberry and blackberry fruit flavors that easily handle the layers of vanilla-tinged toast. Roasted herb, brier and black currant notes run through the finish, which shows the firm edge of the vintage, but a superb effort nonetheless. Carmenere, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2009. 3,150 cases made."

Deep ruby. Oak-spicy aromas of clove, nutmeg, cocoa powder, espresso and raspberry preserves. The intense spice character carries through in the mouth, where there's a sweet red berry tone and lush, silky texture. This clearly has great material and is plenty sweet but it's a shame that the wood is so dominant.