Appealing spice, red apple crumble, cherry, currant, spice and Christmas cake aroma. Juicy, accessible fresh fruit with a nice touch of oak and a sleek texture.

Wente continues to impress with fine wines at fair price points, and this 2007 is a case in point, a high-end offering at a still reasonable price. A rich, red Cabernet Sauvignon, with Petite Verdot and Petite Sirah in here, too, it delivers intense flavors of dark, ripe plums and brown sugar, a very agreeable Cabernet that will pair well with rich red meats. ——V.B.(2/1/2011)—— 88