The 2004 Petra is a big wine endowed with dark fruit, licorice, new leather and grilled herbs that emerge from its powerful, massive frame. Today it comes across as remarkably primary. Still the potential is clearly there for outstanding drinking once the wine comes together in bottle. It is a terrific effort. Petra is Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot aged in French oak. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2022. This is a very solid set of new releases from Petra, a young property in Suvereto. Importer: Blavod Extreme, Franklin, TN; tel. (615) 771-9111

Green aromas of bell pepper, cracked peppercorn and leafy spinach give the Cabernet component away but are rendered manageable and less pronounced thanks to the wine’s softer Merlot side. The wine has good length with dusty tannins and loads of Mediterranean spice on the close.——M.L.(4/1/2008)—— 91