Offers nice polish, with the tobacco note moving to the background while dark plum and cherry fruit takes over. A roasted vanilla streak weaves in and out. Nice fleshy feel. Drink now. 3,000 cases made. -JM

Santa Carolina’s Reserva de Familia red wines from 2007 are vastly improved from what the winery has done for the past two decades. This wine—along with the RdF Cabernet Sauvignon—show immense color and fruit, but also balance, structure and a friendliness that can’t be mass produced. This wine is loaded with cassis, cherry, cola, mint, toast and bacon. And for $15 you’d be hard-pressed to find a better, more complete red from anywhere in the world.——M.S.(5/1/2009)—— 91