Unfortunately more expensive sometimes means more oak, and if it's very expensive, then it means a ton of oak. This is the case with the 2013 Selectus, a blend of equal parts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc with 20% Garnacha, smothered by 18 months in brand new French oak barriques. I can only refer to oak-related aromas here, roasted coffee, smoke, sawdust, spices, incense, cigar ash, balsam, etc. The flavors are the same, adding some raspy tannins, a drying finish and some bitterness. This is a classic example of death by oak. For fans of international oaky reds—a fine representation of the style.