The Buzz
Arianses Vineyard
89 points
Vinous, November 2015
Red-ruby. Plum, mocha and tobacco on the slightly roasted nose, along with note of black olive. Then pliant in the mouth, showing a restrained sweetness to its redcurrant and plum flavors. Ultimately more savory than sweet, and slightly earthy in a positive way. No shortage of acidity here. Drink 2016-2021 — Stephen Tanzer
Cabernet Franc
87 Points
Vinous, November 2015
Bright ruby-red. Distinctly wild aromas of blueberry, blackberry, leather and game, along with a slight herbaceousness. Juicy, slightly high-toned flavors of blackberry, leather and spices. Finishes with dusty tannins and decent length. A little too sauvage for me. Drink 2015-2019. —Stephen Tanzer
Cabernet Sauvignon - Dineen Vineyard
88+? Points
Vinous, November 2015
Bright red-ruby. Cassis, licorice and sexy oak tones on the nose, with a slightly herbal, stemmy quality adding lift. Sweet and supple if a bit lean in the middle, offering nuanced flavors of cassis, red berries, violet and garrigue framed by vibrant acidity. Finishes with slightly gritty building tannins. This wine could have used a bit of Merlot to fatten the mid-palate and fill out the finish. Drink 2019-2026. — Stephen Tanzer
Cabernet Sauvignon - Heart of the Hill Vineyard
90+? points
Vinous, November 2015
(15.3% alcohol): Healthy dark red. High-pitched aromas of black raspberry, violet, tobacco and sexy dark-chocolatey oak. Suave and sweet on the palate, with blueberry, violet and dark chocolate flavor spreading out horizontally to coat the palate and aftertaste. Serious building tannins call for some patience. Classic Red Mountain Cabernet. Drink 2018-2026. — Stephen Tanzer
Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
89+? Points
Vinous, November 2015
(aged in 57% new French oak): Bright ruby-red. Aromas of black cherry, licorice, bitter chocolate, menthol and violet. Primary, chewy dark berry flavors are lifted by a note of lavender. Displays good sweetness but also a slightly rustic texture that should be ameliorated by a few years of cellaring. Densely packed but not heavy, finishing with big tannins and very good persistence. Drink 2018-2026 — Stephen Tanzer