2012 Nota Bene Cellars Red Wine, Wahluke Slope, Arianses Vineyard ($30) From a vineyard just south of Mattawa, this blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 12% Petit Verdot shows a deep ruby color and aromas of blackberry, cherry, plum, black roses, anise, sweet tobacco and rubbed sage. The flavors are deep and direct, with admixtures of licorice, cocoa powder, coffee grounds and Wahluke scorched earth. The back picks up macerated berries, dried cherries and plum preserves, followed by a ripe tannin finish. 18.5/20 points. —Rand Sealey

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

2012 Nota Bene Cellars Cabernet Franc, Yakima Valley ($25) This 100% Cab Franc is sourced from the Dineen (75%) and Ciel du Cheval (25%) vineyards. It shows a deep ruby color and aromas of raspberry, cherry and plum with scents of wild roses, mulberry, tobacco, sage and smoldering incense. The flavors mirror the aromatics with thick, chewy, chocolaty flavors that are imbued with licorice, roasted coffee beans and alluvial earth and minerals. The back picks up macerated fruits, mocha, and toffee, and dustings of coriander and cardamom on the ripe tannin finish. 18.5/20 points. —Rand Sealey

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

2012 Nota Bene Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley, Dineen Vineyard ($35) From a vineyard located north of Zillah, this 100% varietal wine offers a deep ruby color and aromas of blackberry, cherry, plum, dried roses, tobacco, cedar and incense. The medium full-bodied flavors are true to variety and direct, with notes of chocolate, roasted coffee beans and gravelly earth. The back reveals sensations of roasted berries and nuts, mocha, and dried cherries and plums, followed by a savory (nutmeg, cardamom, sage) chewy sweet-dry tannin finish. 18.5/20 points. —Rand Sealey

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 Tanze

The 2012 Dineen Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a cooler site on the western end of the Yakima Valley and is 100% Cabernet that spent 22 months in 25% new French oak. It’s a perfumed, medium-bodied, fresh and focused 2012 that has outstanding complexity in its floral, violets, spice and purple fruit-driven bouquet. It’s beautiful today, yet should cruise for at least a decade. Drink: 2016-2026 - Jeb Dunnuck (March, 2016)

2012 Nota Bene Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, Heart of the Hill Vineyard ($40) This Cabernet displays a semi opaque ruby color and an intense nose of blackberry, cherry, plum, crushed roses, sweet tobacco, sandalwood, rubbed sage and incense. The medium full-bodied flavors show the traits of Red Mountain Cabernet - licorice, baker's chocolate, roasted coffee beans and scorched earth and minerals. On the back, the wine turns chewy textured, with sensations of macerated berries and roasted nuts, mocha, toffee, integrated oak (50% new French), followed by a lingering, fleshy, dark fruited ripe tannin finish. 19/20 points. —Rand Sealey

(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

2012 Nota Bene Cellars Red Wine, Red Mountain, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard ($40) Composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc, this wine shows a deep ruby color and an intense nose of wild blackberry, old tree cherry, and black plum, with scents of black roses, juniper berry, cigar box, rubbed sage and sweet incense. On the palate, the medium full-bodied flavors are mouth encompassing, intermixed with licorice, bittersweet chocolate, roasted coffee beans and Red Mountain scorched earth. The saturation continues on the back with sensations of macerated berries, roasted walnuts, mocha, toffee, semi dried cherries, and deft integrated oak (66% new French), followed by a satiny ripe, yet firm, sweet-dry tannin finish. 19/20 points. —Rand Sealey

(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

A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc, the 2012 Ciel du Cheval offers lots of plum and currant fruits, leafy herbs, mint and some cedary spice characteristics in a perfumed, fragrant, medium to full-bodied style. It has bright acidity, yet stays balanced and thoroughly drinkable. Drink: 2016-2026 - Jeb Dunnuck (March, 2016)

2012 Nota Bene Cellars Malbec, Red Mountain, Heart of the Hill Vineyard ($30) This is a top notch Malbec. Semi opaque crimson colored, it emits enticing aromas of wild blackberries, mountain blueberries, black currants, crushed black roses, mulberry, sweet tobacco, violets, cracked pepper and incense. On the palate, the black and blue fruits flavors are bold and mouth encompassing, replete with black licorice, dark cocoa, French roast and Red Mountain scorched earth. The back picks up pressed berries, roasted walnuts, creme de cassis, and burnt charcoal on the way to a lingering, spice-dusted sweet-dry tannin finish. 19/20 points. —Rand Sealey

(14.8% alcohol): Bright medium ruby. Inviting aromas of black cherry, cocoa powder and violet complemented by a hint of spicy oak. Juicy, spicy and energetic, with black fruit and bitter chocolate flavors firmed by an edge of acidity and tannins. Still a bit youthfully clenched but conveys very good varietal character. Give this a couple years in the cellar to soften, then serve it with a fatty steak. Drink 2017-2024. —Stephen Tanzer

Another impressive wine from this estate is the 2012 Malbec Heart of the Hill Vineyard, which saw the standard 22 months in French oak, 50% being new. A big, ripe, textured and full-bodied beauty, it offers lots of black cherry, dried earth, iron and mineral characteristics as well as terrific purity, beautiful mid-palate concentration and a great finish. Drink it over the coming 5-7 years. Drink: 2016-2023 - Jeb Dunnuck (March, 2016)