Clean lines of blackberry jam, charred toast and crushed slate make for a focused nose in this reserve blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. It is very dense and thick on the palate, where mocha, caramel, loamy earth and dark berry flavors align into an lusciously rich yet elegantly dry experience.

Opaque ruby. Oak-accented dark fruit, pipe tobacco and vanilla scents, along with hints of cracked pepper and menthol. Lush and broad on the palate, offering concentrated cherry, cassis, espresso and vanilla flavors and a smoky topnote. There's a lot of fruit here but a good wallop of toasty oak as well. Finishes round and smoky, with the vanilla and menthol notes repeating. Does this wine have the material to stand up to the assertive lumber element?