The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, the second varietal bottling of the grape, was cropped from a vintage with a cool spring and warmer summer with enough water to achieve good ripeness of the grapes (14.6% alcohol in the bottled wine). The grapes were picked in late October, destemmed and fermented with yeasts selected from their own vineyards. It matured in 2,000-liter French oak foudres for ten months. It felt riper than the Merlot, with darker fruit aromas but following a similar profile. There are more tannins here too, and it should benefit from some more time in bottle and/or powerful food. An elegant Cabernet. 3,430 bottles were filled in April 2016.

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon is a textbook interpretation of the grape, with aromas of pepper, raspberry leaf, cedar wood, graphite and blackberries with some lactic hints. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with some grainy tannins and good acidity, perfectly balanced. Drink now-2016. Pago de Larrainzar produces modern, well-crafted reds based on international grape varieties that are difficult to pinpoint as Navarra. Importer: Broadbent Selections Inc., Richmond, VA; tel. (804) 353-1818; www.broadbent.com