A Napa winemaker told me that “olive” is not a fashionable word to use with Cabernet. Maybe, but the olives here are beautiful. They’re the black, French-cured type, enriched with cassis and flashy new oak, and the flavors are balanced with wonderfully rich tannins and fine acids. What a fabulous job Hendry is doing with these Block 8 Cabs. Drink now–2010.——S.H.(12/15/2006)—— 93

There’s a burst of white pepper that escapes just after you pop the cork, although it airs to blackberry pie. This is a young, tannic wine, too tight to drink now. The peppery, herbal side suggests against long-term cellaring, but it should soften and sweeten by 2006. ——S.H.(11/15/2004)—— 89

Exceedingly dark, and starts off closed and mute, a difficult wine to evaluate in its youth. If you open it now, give it plenty of airing. Currently gives of aromas of dill, cured olives and earth, although there is a tremendous core of sweet blackberry buried under the tannins, which are soft and fine. ——S.H.(11/15/2003)—— 90