Rating: 93-95 - As reviewed by International Wine Cellar in Issue 132, May/June 2007 ($80) Dark purple. Remarkably spicy and vibrant on the nose, with powerful cassis, kirsch, espresso and rose pastille aromas and a subtle iron note. Intense red and dark fruit flavors are powered by vibrant minerality and framed by fine but solid tannins. Exotic spice notes come up on the long, stunningly sweet finish. "These vines are just coming into their majority," Ramey said.

8% Cabernet Franc; 7% Petit Verdot; 1% Malbec. The Ramey Cabernet family shares a strong bias to ripeness and size, and this big, highly extracted, chocolate-laced wine falls right into step. Like its mates, it is more brawny than well-bred, but it will never be faulted for lack of stuffing. Thick and tough and a little sere at the end, it is a bit soft given its ten-year tannins, and it should hit its peak in half the time.

Rating: (90-92) - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 168 on Dec-06

Rating: 90/100 - As reviewed by Wine Spectator

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