This is a chewy, tannic, almost chalky wine, and right out of the bottle it is quite tight and showing strong barrel flavors. Half Cab Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 20% Cab Franc, the fruit is wrapped into thick flavors of smoke and earth. You will find streaks of raspberry and red currant fruit, and sweet red licorice also. Give this a lot of breathing time.——P.G.(5/1/2008)—— 89