A blend of 50% Tannat, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, the Arretxea 2005 Irouleguy displays a riveting nose of ripe, fresh and distilled black fruits, iodine, sealing wax, pungent herbs, and lightly-charred grilled red meats. Firm in the mouth but fine-grained in tannin, it leaves an impressive coating of smoky, salty, tar- and herb-tinged bitter black fruits and meat in the finish. This will prove fascinating at table over the next several years.Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524