Still hard in tannins at the age of five-plus years, and despite some polished blackberry flavors, there is also an overripe, pruny one. Unlikely to improve in the bottle. ——S.H.(12/31/2011)—— 84

At about 5 years of age, this Cab still tastes immature. It has acid-inspired flavors of blackberry and cherry jam that finish in a scour of astringent tannins. Feels tough now, but could develop bottle complexity beyond 2010.——S.H.(11/1/2009)—— 87

Just a little too sweet for my taste, this Cab is also soft in acids and tannins. The flavors are of sugared blackberry tea, cherry pie filling and cola. ——S.H.(12/15/2006)—— 85

I’ve liked Galante’s Blackjack Cab for its balanced ageworthiness, one of the few south-of-San Francisco Cabs you can say that about. This vintage, the wine is big in fruit but tight in tannins and acids. Although decanting will soften it and a good steak will improve it, it’s best left alone for at least a year, and should hold for the rest of this decade. ——S.H.(7/1/2006)—— 91