Premier Cabernet Collection Wines

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon - Smith Ranch, Clone 8 is a wonderfully elegant, full-bodied wine displaying generous flavors of cassis, black cherry, chocolate, and toasty oak. A voluptuous mid-palate leads to a finish with balanced acidity and tannin. While not the most tannic Cabernet in the Collection, the Smith Ranch has the grip to age for 10-15 years and the elegance and flavor to make the wait worthwhile.


2006 Cabernet Sauvignon - Ghielmetti Vineyard, Clone 4 is a wine whose greatest distinction comes from its aromatic complexity. While showing the classic aromatic mix of cassis, cigar box, semi-sweet-chocolate that define great Cabernet, this wine also has an exotic wood note that reminds me slightly of Cabernet Franc. Taken as a whole, the wine is splendidly odiferous. In the mouth, Clone 4 is silky and round with blue-black fruit flavors. Not as big a wine as Smith Ranch in terms of tannin, it is very refined and classy. Bolstered structurally by acidity as much as tannin, Clone 4 should age for more than 10 years when stored properly.