The 2018 Block 1 displays a deep ruby core with a magenta rim and offers aromas of spiced plum, dried currant and cassis before dusty black cherry and blackberry compote sway with elements of resinous purple flowers and brown baking spices. Full-bodied and generously layered, the Block 1 offers an approachable frame of juicy fruit before succulent, fine-grained tannins coat the mouth. The wine continues to evolve and somersault through the long, lingering finish, leaving elements of Christmas spice, plum preserves and a notion of potpourri on the palate. The wine spent 32 months in French oak—75% first fill. This which should be released in the fall of 2021. 8,400 bottles produced.

Hedonistic on the nose with generous oak and a juicy, lush fruit profile, the 2017 Block 1 has swagger and class. Sashaying out of the glass, aromas of chocolate-covered blueberry, blackberry reduction, mocha, cinnamon, vanilla and resinous purple flowers with elements of sage and roasted bell pepper all vie for your attention. Full-bodied, locked and loaded, the wine hits the palate like a tongue depressor of ripe fruit and oak, before displaying a sturdy and balanced structure of elevated alcohol, firm tannins and energetic acidity. The wine continues to evolve for moments on the long finish with flavors of raspberry chocolate ganache, juicy plum and baking spices. Made of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine rested for 32 months in all-new French oak. Only 6,000 bottles produced.

The 2016 Block 1 has a bold and expressive nose with a focused tone of dusty blackberry and dusty plum blossom on the nose, with hints of baked earth and layered oak essence. Medium to full-bodied, oak spices show up first on the palate followed by a bold berry-laced tone, with good mineral tension and firm tannic grip adding complexity. The wine lingers softly with tart fruit expressions and subtle notions of graphite that continue to evolve on the precise, focused and complex finish. Only 600 cases made. Wow, I’m impressed.

Revealing aromas of creamy new oak—vanilla pod, toasted coconut and spice—and background hints of ripe black fruits, the 2015 Block 1 is only medium-bodied, but it's ferociously tannic and drying and concludes with a mouth-puckering finish. I can't imagine any amount of cellaring will resolve the structure here, which I suspect is significantly oak-derived, whereas the fruit may fade.

More elegant and classically styled than the more plush, hedonistically-driven L'Orage cuvee, the sensational 2014 Block 1 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was brought up all in new French oak. It's an extraordinary Cabernet from Washington that will easily stand up to the first growths of Bordeaux in a blind tasting. Tobacco leaf, blackcurrants, toasted bread, lead pencil and spice are just some of the nuances here, and it's full-bodied, silky and seamless on the palate, with a fresh, clean, elegant style that just begs to be drunk. Nevertheless, I suspect it will put on weight with another 2-3 years of cellaring, and see its 20th birthday in fine form.