Deep lurid ruby. Heady, smoke- and spice-accented boysenberry, cherry liqueur and violet aromas show excellent clarity and pick up a hint of olive with aeration. Sweet and broad on the palate, offering deeply concentrated yet energetic dark berry preserve, cola and floral pastille flavors, plus a suggestion of spicecake. The extremely long, velvety finish features an echo of juicy, sweet blue fruit and harmonious tannins that come in late. (Josh Raynolds)

(made with no new oak): Bright violet color. Mineral- and spice-accented cherry, black raspberry, incense and violet on the intensely perfumed nose. Deeply concentrated but lively as well, offering palate-staining dark berry preserve, spicecake, floral pastille and olive flavors that spread out steadily on the back half. Blends power and vivacity with a deft hand and finishes sweet and extremely long, with silky tannins folding quickly into the wine's juicy, focused dark fruit.