The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Wall Vineyard has a dense purple color, sweet creme de cassis notes mixed with blue fruits, acacia flowers, and hints of espresso roast and white chocolate. It is full-bodied, dense, powerful, and very impressive. This wine comes from a high-elevation Cabernet vineyard planted at 1,800 to 2,000 feet. The well-known, former winemaker at Beringer, Ed Sbragia, has fashioned these cuvees at his home estate. His Sonoma offerings will be reviewed in the February issue of The Wine Advocate. However, I have included his Cabernet Sauvignon from the Monte Rosso Vineyard as well as his Andolsen Cabernet Sauvignon from Dry Creek. Tel. (866) 222-4342

Shows the hard, bigtime tannins of this important mountain appellation and also its tightly wound blackberry and currant flavors, with their dusting of herbs. Marred by a slightly unripe streak of vegetable, and not likely to improve with age.——S.H.(2/1/2010)—— 86