Profoundly black at the core, this wine’s color is impenetrable. It also has richly colored, slow-falling legs. Opulent in fragrance, with grilled wheat bread, licorice, bacon drippings and ultraripe blackberries, this wine promises to be gluttonous on the palate—and it delivers. It is a feast of ripe black fruit, well integrated with generous new French oak. However, the velvety tannins and perky acidity play yin and yang so well that the wine has just enough refreshment. This is great for palates accustomed to West Coast wines from the U.S. Drink now through 2019.

— Published (8/4/2014)