A beauty, the 2003 Cabernet/Shiraz Ripper Creek (55% and 45% respectively) possesses an opaque ruby/purple color in addition to a sweet bouquet of graphite, creme de cassis, smoke, and damp earth. With striking minerality, medium to full body, decent acidity, loads of black fruits, sweet tannin, and a long, fleshy, expansive mouthfeel, it should provide plenty of pleasure over the next 10-12 years. Importer: Dan Philips, The Grateful Palate, Oxnard, CA; tel. (888) 472-5283

Herbal style has lots of mint and rosemary weaving through the supple berry and currant fruit. Drink now through 2010. 144 cases imported. -HS