Despite lots of ripe black cherry, blueberry and plum flavors, this is a fairly rustic wine, with some edgy tannins making it feel prickly. A bit sweet, it will pair up with Mexican beef and pork dishes.——S.H.(12/15/2011)—— 85

A tasty Cab, if a little one-dimensional, with soft tannins. Shows red cherry and raspberry jam flavors, enhanced with sweetly smoked oak. Drink now.——S.H.(11/1/2010)—— 85

Soft and somewhat vegetal, with asparagus-infused flavors of blackberries and cherries that finish dry and tannic. ——S.H.(12/1/2009)—— 83

Fresh and jammy, with sharp acidity and berry flavors that taste right out of the fermenter. Seems like it was released awfully young, but might calm down in a few months. ——S.H.(12/1/2006)—— 83

This is Brander’s best Cabernet yet. That’s mainly due to ripeness. They achieved delicious blackberry, black currant and mocha flavors that echo the best of the North Coast. Next on the agenda is to get those tannins to be softer and smoother and more authoritative. ——S.H.(5/1/2006)—— 87