2008 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

(14.8% alcohol): Bright, dark ruby. Pungent aromas of black cherry, cassis, blueberry, dark chocolate, violet and crushed rock. Densely packed, plush and classically dry, conveying strong medicinal reserve to its powerful, almost port-like flavors of black fruits, menthol, licorice and minerals. Wound tight on the back end, where the building, tooth-dusting, tongue-clenching tannins still need patience. A very concentrated, delineated, mineral-driven wine--and an essence of Spring Mountain Cabernet.

The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a dark, brooding wine bursting with dark red fruit, game, ash, licorice and minerals. The wine shows great energy and focus in a pure, driven style. Today the tannins remain a bit firm and the wine is a little tight, but this will be beautiful in another few years. There is also a subtle trace of smoke taint that comes through here.

Bright ruby-red. Medicinal aromas of black cherry, blueberry, minerals, bitter chocolate and licorice; a real essence of Spring Mountain cabernet. Dense, deep and juicy, with lovely inner-mouth perfume to the flavors of black raspberry, dark chocolate and minerals. Finishes with serious mountain tanins and excellent aromatic lift and length. This has filled in nicely since I tasted it last winter from barrel, but will require at least several years of bottle aging and may ultimately merit an even higher score.