1997 Bryant Family Cabernet Sauvignon

Medium red-ruby. Deep, captivating aromas of dark berries, black cherry, mocha, earth and gravel. Wonderfully plush and sweet on entry, then fat, viscous and pliant in the mouth, spreading out horizontally to saturate the palate. Ripe acidity and a note of licorice drive the finish, with the tannins present but broad and fine-grained. A splendid showing.

Dark red. Very ripe aromas of cassis liqueur, redcurrant, plum, mocha and gravel. Hugely concentrated and ripe, even viscous, with powerful retention of currant fruit complicated by a sappy resiny quality and subtle salinity. For all its ripeness, this wine boasts solid acidity, not to mention substantial integrated tannins and terrific grip. Most impressive today for its explosive, slowly rising finish. When I first tasted this wine from bottle in the spring of 2000, I wrote the following: "Critics of this wine will no doubt recommend consumption over the next several years, but this wine may go on and on like a '47 Pomerol. A monument in the making." It's certainly going on and on.

Smoke, incense, spearmint, espresso bean, vanilla and black raspberries start off the nose. In the mouth, the wine is lush and packs a punch with its dense, ripe, jammy strawberries and licorice. There is a minor sensation of heat in the finish, but it’s not off putting. 94 Points