10% Merlot; 3% Cabernet Franc. Plentiful, well-ripened black-cherry fruit and sweet, slightly toasty oak spice quickly surpass initial notes of dried herbs and earth in the nose and become the central themes of this nicely made, fairly full-bodied young Cabernet's slightly succulent flavors. Solidly built and firmed by evident tannins, yet never tough and already showing the first signs of suppleness, the wine should round into shape with but a few years of age.

Rating for United States-California: 95 (slightly better than average year)<br/><br/>Drinkability: too young, let it sit<br/>

joels birthday. sand and splash

great with steak

great wine