Very sweet in fruit and refined in texture, a softly gentle wine to enjoy now and over the next six years. Shows lots of blackberry, cherry, orange zest, licorice and sandalwood flavors, wrapped into rich, silky tannins.——S.H.(12/31/2009)—— 91

Very soft in structure, with ripely jammy cherry, blackberry and raspberry flavors edged with chocolate, anise and cinnamon. Good but one-dimensional. Drink now. ——S.H.(2/1/2009)—— 86

Atlas Peak, now under the ownership of Beam Wine Estates, is reinventing itself. This new wine, by veteran winemaker Darren Procsal, shows promise. It’s a big, dry Cab, not as astringent as in the past but still tannic enough to demand cellaring. Should be better between 2009 and 2015, but it’s a gamble.——S.H.(12/15/2006)—— 87