The 2007 VR Special Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% varietal sourced from 3 vineyards and aged in 50% new oak. Medium purple-colored, it sends up a fragrant perfume of smoke, spice box, cassis, blackberry, and violets. Full-bodied on the palate (15.3% alcohol) but relatively light on its feet, this full-flavored effort displays chocolate and spicy herbal notes leading to a lengthy finish. It has the ability to evolve for 1-2 years and will drink nicely through its 15th birthday. Dusted Valley Vintners began operations in Walla Walla in 2003 and has just opened a tasting room in Woodinville. All of their wines are now bottled in Stelvin screw caps. The current collection, tasted in Woodinville, is uniformly excellent and fairly priced www.dustedvalley.com

Dedicated to the memory of a family founder, Vernon Rhodes, this one-time release is packed with barrel flavors of chocolate, espresso and smoke. The fruit holds its own, dense cassis and black cherry, dappled with pepper and fresh herbs. Tight and balanced, this needs decanting and can certainly be cellared for a decade or longer.——P.G.(12/31/2010)—— 92