The 2013 Proprietary Red displays a deep garnet-purple color. Wow—it emits the most gorgeous perfume of rose hip tea, violets, sandalwood and fragrant earth over a cassis and blackberry pie core with touches of mocha, cigar box, menthol and garrigue plus a waft of star anise. The powerful, full-bodied palate delivers a wall of exotic spice-accented black fruit preserves with a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing very long and layered. This needs time but is lookin’ glorious.

The 2013 vintage presented winemaker Martha McClellan with pretty much ideal conditions, and she certainly appears to have made the best of them. A dazzling, captivating wine, the 2013 Sloan Estate wraps around the palate with sumptuous dark fruit. Barrel fermentations confer structure, depth and resonance. The flavors are remarkably vivid and perfumed for such a big wine. Exotic mocha and orange peel notes round out the finish. The 2013 is going to be an utterly fascinating wine to follow over the next two decades plus.

The 2013 Proprietary Red Blend Sloan exhibits beautiful notes of cedarwood, forest floor, fruitcake, blueberries and blackberries. The Cabernet Franc character appears to be pushing itself more forcefully through in this wine that is largely dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon. It is another great effort from this fabulous hillside vineyard with terrific purity, a multidimensional mouthfeel and a long finish. It should drink well for 20-25 years.