Sourced from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge Vineyards, the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (which contains 2% Petit Verdot) was aged for 23 months in 41% new French, American, and Russian oak. Dark ruby-colored, it exhibits an attractive nose of toasty oak, pencil lead, violets, espresso, black currant, and blackberry. This leads to a medium to full-bodied, supple, sweetly-fruited wine with excellent depth and grip, 3-5 years of aging potential, and a lengthy finish. Drink it from 2013 to 2025. Reininger Winery opened its doors in 1997. The wines are made by Chuck Reininger with lots of family help with winery operations. The Reininger label is reserved for wines produced with Walla Walla grown grapes while the Helix label, reviewed separately, is used for Columbia Valley fruit.Tel. (509) 522-1994; www.reiningerwinery.com

As before, this is Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, with just a splash of Petit Verdot. For a Cab it’s open and forward, showing juicy cherry and strawberry flavors, dotted with herb and spice, finished with luscious milk chocolate. The sharp tannins seem to tighten it up, suggesting further improvement with age. This is a classy effort, as always, but seems to want further bottle time to show its best.——P.G.(5/1/2009)—— 89