Blackberry and mint flavors make a nice combination in this polished wine, which finishes with gentle tannins and a lingering floral note. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenere. Drink now through 2015. 975 cases made. -HS

The blend includes all six Bordeaux red grapes and is sourced from four vineyards in four different AVAs. But what could be a mish-mash is a complex, fragrant, attractive red blend, that takes the best of each vineyard and crafts a wine that uses them all wisely. It is totally a Washington take on a Bordeaux-style blend, with potent fruit flavors expanding the mid-palate. The herbal and earthy character of Bordeaux is well represented, and whatever new oak the wine may have seen is well in the background. ——P.G.(9/1/2011)—— 91