Blackberry, earth, leafy herbs and scorched earth (maybe some chocolate) all emerge from Brian's 2013 Solesce. Made from a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and the balance Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, this full-bodied, ripe, nicely textured effort has tons to love and will keep for a decade or two.

Another wine that’s quite possibly the best vintage to date, the 2012 Solesce is a sensational blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 11% Petit Verdot, 7% Malbec and the balance Cabernet Franc. Aged 28 months in 50% new French oak, this ripe, full-bodied, beautifully textured and balanced red offers complex notes of currants, olive, leafy herbs, loamy earth and hints of game. Like all of Brian’s 2012s, it has a level of purity and texture that I haven’t found in his wines in the past. This straight up terrific Bordeaux blend will keep for two decades or more.

The 2010 Solesce is Carter’s Bordeaux blend comprised of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and the rest Malbec. A departure from previous vintages that focused on Red Mountain Fruit, the 2010 comes all from the Wahluke Slope’s Stone Tree Vineyard and is the first vintage to get a vineyard designate. It offers lots of lavender, black cherry, dried flowers and subtle menthol to go with a medium to full-bodied, supple, elegant profile on the palate. It will drink nicely another decade at least.

The Cabernet Sauvignon dominated 2009 Solesce is a beauty. Coming mostly from Red Mountain and incorporating smaller parts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, it gives up impressive black raspberry, currants, licorice and toasty notes to go with a medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated feel on the palate. It’s a serious bottle of wine that will have two decades of longevity. Brian Carter continues to produce a number of well-made wines, from just about every grape variety out there. Tel. (425) 806-9463; www.briancartercellars.com

The flagship bottling, the 2008 Solesce is a classy, beautifully made blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon (all from the sandy loam soils of Red Mountain), 22% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec. Aged for 30 months in 50% new French oak, it offers up a complex array of cedar, spice box, roasted meat and dusty earth to go with an elegant, polished and moderately concentrated mouthfeel that shows juicy acidity, medium to full-body and polished tannin. Certainly delicious now, it will also evolve gracefully for 12-15 years or more given its overall balance. Drink now-2023. Based in Woodinville and made by Brian Carter, this is a solid, well-made lineup of wines. Tel. (425) 806-9463; www.briancartercellars.com