The 2007 Vifinity Blend is composed of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon from Pepper Bridge and Klipsun, 29% Merlot from Boushey and Klipsun, 14% Malbec from Stonetree, and 14% Petit Verdot from Lonesome Springs encompassing four AVAs. It was aged for 32 months in 100% new French oak. It sports an already complex perfume of sandalwood, exotic spices, violets, incense, black cherry, and blackberry. Medium-bodied, elegant, and intensely flavored, it conceals enough fine-grained tannin to merit another 5-6 years of cellaring. It offers a drinking window extending from 2016 to 2027, perhaps longer. Patience is required. French ex-pat Marie-Eve Gilla is a partner and winemaker of Forgeron Cellars, located in Walla Walla. These are the finest wines I have tasted to date from this reliable source.Tel. (509) 522-9463; www.forgeroncellars.com

Softly entering maturity, this blend offers plum and chocolate, with hints of licorice. Smooth and supple.——P.G.(11/1/2010)—— 87

Forgeron’s prestige offering is rather nondescript, showing toasty oak, other barrel flavors, and a mix of Cab, Merlot and Syrah fruit. It never seems to snap into focus; it’s a pleasant red wine that doesn’t have the sort of grip and depth one expects in this price range. ——P.G.(4/1/2006)—— 86

The 2001 Vinfinity, a dark ruby-colored blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 19% Syrah and 6% Zinfandel sports an intense nose of blackberries, cassis, black raspberries, hints of plums, and notes of licorice, Medium-bodied and focused, its dark berry flavors cut an almost laser-like line across the palate. This tannic, concentrated and extracted wine has an 89-90 point nose and a 84-85 point mouth. Anticipated maturity: now-2009. Tel. (509) 522-9463 www.forgeroncellars.com