The brilliant 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso comes from one of Sonoma’s greatest vineyards, a huge land mass with incredibly old vines that are still dry farmed and head pruned. It boasts a dense ruby/purple color along with notes of volcanic soil, truffles, black currants, underbrush and unsmoked cigar tobacco. This deep, full-bodied, rich, well-made Cabernet reveals some flamboyant tendencies, but it appears to be 2-3 years away from full maturity, where it should stay for another 10-15 years. Ed Sbragia, who had his so-called glory years as the chief winemaker behind many of the great wines that were produced at Beringer, continues to operate from his family holdings in the Dry Creek area of Sonoma, where he turns out excellent wines at realistic prices. Tel. (707) 473-2992