Fancy names for Meritage wines (Bordeaux style blends) are fine and dandy, but I really like the name of Larkmead's version.  They skip the poetic title, and just name the wine to reflect what's in the bottle "60% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot".  I believe all (or at least the majoirity) of the grapes are from Larkmead's historic estate vineyards.

The wine has my vote for best wine of the year so far.  Granted, it is only the 3rd week of January, but the wine will probably still be in the running well into the spring.  The wine has a tremendously seductive bouquet that jumps from the glass.  It is not necessary to swirl the glass to release the huge black currant/cassis bouquet on this wine.  The wine is a precocious fruit forward velvety wine, voluptuous and aggressive.  Fruit, Fruit, and more fruit.  Almost like a cabernet Jamba Juice, and I don't mean that in a derogatory sense.  Everything is in perfect balance.  Silky tannin and a lovely finish round out this wine.

4.5 stars

 

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