Lifted sour cherry, pot pourii, nutmeg, leather, berry and tobacco nose. Savoury, lush palate, juicy tannins and integrated oak.

The blend is 40% Grenache, 35% Shiraz and 25% Mourvedre, and the result is a compelling mix of dark, plummy fruit with brighter hints of raspberry, liniment and dried spices. It’s full bodied and creamy in texture, finishing long and lush with hints of clove and coffee. While approachable now, this wine’s track record for aging suggests it should evolve through at least 2017. ——J.C.(10/1/2010)—— 92