This wine is opaque, with deep, boysenberry coloring and a thin, red-berry rim. Decidedly reticent, the nose focuses on crushed gravel, smoke, tar, blackberries and black plum. It’s an aromatic mess of excitement, but the palate is slightly less dramatic, and the fruit concentration is modest. Still, it’s a fun wine showing a bit of development that is drinking very well now, but should age through 2014. The tannins are near succulent, and the acidity is well measured.

— Published (3/14/2013)