The 2006 Sagemoor Vineyards Reserve Blend is composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 25% Cabernet Franc sourced from Sagemoor’s finest sites and aged in 63% new French oak. Deep purple in color, it surrenders a fragrant nose of Asian spices, incense, violets, tobacco, herbs, black currant, and blackberry. Dense, rich, and layered bordering on opulent, it is already complex with another 5-6 years of aging potential. Give it another 3-4 years of cellaring and drink it from 2013 to 2026. Tel. (509) 526-3533; www.tamarackcellars.com

This half Cabernet, one quarter each Merlot and Cab Franc offers a lovely mix of herb and earth, moderate density, nicely spiced, with brambly red fruits. It shows delicate old vine character, making up with refined herbal flavors what it lacks in fruit sweetness.——P.G.(9/1/2010)—— 90

The Cabernet Sauvignon is from vines planted in 1972—fruit that once went into Leonetti Cab. The other half is evenly split between Merlot and Cab Franc, crafting a flavor mix of herb and earth, with moderate density. It’s nicely spiced, with brambly red fruits, and some butterscotch coming into the finish.——P.G.(8/1/2009)—— 89