Aged in French oak for 11 months, the opening aromas of black cherry are overtly pleasant. With its pillow-light mouthfeel, notes of cranberry, sweet tobacco, and a hint of dusty cocoa align. Light on its feet, with a finish of lavender and cinnamon.
Cherries, blackberries, and cola fuse with traces of oak chips, green pepper, and smoke. The palate is compact, dense, and athletic like a linebacker. Girded with a sleek texture, balanced throughout and easy to drink, this blend is an exploration in dark fruit and a lightness of touch.
The perfume is mineral-driven with a delicate veil of wasabi. There is a gratifying tension on the palate with fresh oranges wearing a corsage of jasmine. On display is a winning combination of freshness, moxy and balance that is driven like the bassline of a jazz trio with a pulsing depth.
While the Oak Knoll displays a ruby hue, Stags Leap a purple-carmine, this Merlot offers a brick tint. Earth-laden notes of sandalwood meld with cherry skin tannins. High-toned acidity braces the palate, while flavors of toasted coconut and lime pith come forward. Cherry is bright and advances a sexy tension on the finish.
The first word that comes to mind is fresh. While notes of cherry and cherrywood charm the palate up front, a deeper dive brings out cigar wrapping and white pepper. Chalky tannins wrap around the tongue, but that Luxardo cherry vibrancy, thanks to its innate acidity, lingers through a lengthy finish.
Elegance is embodied in this sleek red, with toasted almond and ripe blueberry taking a stance. You can taste the soil, with a hint of iodine and herbal undertones. Creamy, with spiced chocolate-cherry, and a hint of orange peel. The wine continues to draw out additional flavors and textures within minutes. Tannins are seamless, but the structure is undeniable.
Finesse is exhibited here within an athletic frame, keeping a soft and sensuous profile for this raving beauty’s well-integrated tannins. Lithe on the palate with cherry oak and vanilla Rooibos tea, this is a diamond of a wine, valued for its complexity and depth, from the winery’s estate vineyard, appreciated for its status in the world class arena.
From a single site on the Rutherford Hill estate, this blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot is enhanced with silky tannins that surround white-pepper plum gelée. Cherry vanilla climbs aboard high-velocity acidity, while coffee notes create a savory mood on the seductive finish.