Color:Deep garnet with purple hues

Nose:Compact in form and streamlined. Initial oak note gives familiar appearance but true charm lies beyond. Cassis, graphite, violet, and herbal notes. Retro-nasal fresh riparian/resin notes: willow, cottonwood.

Palate:Focused and direct with a long evolution building layers of complexity and charm. Noble, well-defined in form — shapely and poised. Power and direction while remaining harmonious and complete. Finer-grained yet present tannins at the finish — more energizing, excellent with food. Can still go further in evolution. Kind tannin. Approachable but does not reveal full story. Sophisticated and confident — while not showing full depth expected in the future (young vines), surprisingly complex and complete.

Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon from G2N Vineyard, Willow Creek — shapely, mineral, and age-worthy. Up to 98 pts, Somm Journal.