2002 Proprietary Red, Paradise Hills Vineyard

Saturated medium ruby. Knockout nose combines black raspberry, blueberry, mocha, bitter chocolate and tobacco, plus an exotic suggestion of citric high tones. Compellingly rich and sappy, with vibrant black and red fruit flavors. Best of all on the back end, which features very suave tannins and superb building length. This was a knockout a year ago and is every bit as promising today.

Deep, bright ruby. Superb, sappy aromas of black raspberry, blackberry, mulberry, violet, licorice and maple syrup; like a Pauillac on steroids. Lush, sweet and suave but with excellent inner-palate energy. Superb, late-arriving noble tannins saturate the teeth and tongue. A compellingly sweet, extremely long wine that may offer even better mouth coverage than the '01.

The 2002 Blankiet Estate is soft and pretty, but also quite resolved in both its tannic structure and overall feel. Sweet red cherry, tobacco, mint, cedar and dried flowers all grace this soft, open-knit Cabernet Sauvignon. The aromatics are rather attractive, but the 2002 is also in a place where any remaining bottles should be drunk.