From a hot year in Washington State, the 2004 Harrison Hill (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot) is still lively and fresh, with awesome notes of cassis, black cherries, lead pencil shavings and licorice. About as fine and silky on the palate as they come, this full-bodied, ripe, yet elegant 2004 is just now at the early stages of maturity.

The 2004 Harrison Hill comes from a single Yakima Valley vineyard, the second oldest in the state. The wine is composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot,9% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Dark ruby-colored, it exhibits a fragrant perfume of minerals, leather, pepper, cedar, cassis, black cherry, and black currants which jumps from the glass. Richly textured, the wine is supple and sweet on the palate with layers of complex flavors, well-concealed tannins, and a long, smooth finish. Give this seamless effort 3-4 years of further bottle age and drink it through 2024. The winery offered the 1994 Harrison Hill to demonstrate the aging potential of this wine. Exhibiting complexity, elegance, and power, it has the stuffing to continue its evolution for another 5-7 years. www.delillecellars.com