7% Merlot; 5% Cabernet Franc; 2% Petit Verdot. Deep, well-defined curranty fruit is the driving force of this nicely extracted, young Cabernet, while complementary oak and deft touches of cocoa lend a boost in overall richness. If fairly full-bodied, the wine shows nary a hint of heaviness and sports a fine sense of balance from beginning to end. It is supple to start and finishes with appropriate tannins, but its astringency never gets in the way of its ongoing fruit, and time is a guaranteed remedy to its wholly acceptable toughness.

Good deep red. Black cherry, plum syrup and lead pencil on the nose, with a lightly roasted character and a meaty nuance. Quite pliant on the palate, with a much more velvety mouthfeel than the Alexander Valley offering and more mid-palate stuffing to support its toothcoating tannins. Here the wine's herbal element lifts the fruit. Not exactly fat but nicely sweet. Finishes with very good breadth and length.