2009 Vineyard 29 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

(15.2% alcohol): Bright ruby-red. Brooding aromas of dark berries, black olive, licorice, dark chocolate and minerals. Densely packed, sweet and deep but also tightly wound and quite primary, offering excellent penetration and lift to its sharply delineated flavors of blue and purple berries, licorice and violet. Finishes firmly tannic and long. This extremely young and impressive wine, which has tightened up considerably since the last time I tasted it, will need at least several more years in the cellar to expand and should be long-lived. Emerson bottled this wine a bit later than usual, in August of 2011.

(100% cabernet sauvignon): Good medium ruby. Dark, brooding aromas of cassis, licorice, graphite and chocolate, lifted by a floral topnote. Lush, sweet and seamless, with excellent lift to its ripe black fruit and mineral flavors. Most impressive today on the very long, juicy back end, which features wonderful suave soft tannins for this site. I underrated this wine from barrel last year. This superb wine is harmonious already but should really be cellared for at least a few years.

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard 29 Estate (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is a huge wine graced with exceptional balance. Ripe, silky tannins provide the backdrop for expressive dark red fruit, spices and flowers. The 2009 is seamless and impeccable from start to finish. There is no shortage of personality and sheer character in this gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon.