2008 Pahlmeyer Red

Saturated ruby. Cool, almost medicinal aromas of black cherry, blackberry and licorice. Still a bit youthfully clenched but displays lovely energy and density without undue weight. The classically dry flavors of dark berries, chocolate and savory minerality are nicely delineated. A very successful vintage for this bottling as there's little sign of overripe fruit. This should evolve slowly and positively for at least another decade.

(cabernet sauvignon with 8% merlot, 6% cabenet franc, 3% petit verdot and 1% malbec): Good deep ruby-red. Complex nose melds briary black raspberry, black cherry, licorice, bitter chocolate and wild herbs. Concentrated, lush and intense, with very good purity to the nicely delineated dark fruit, spice and floral flavors. A hint of wild herbs adds complexity. The serious, broad tannins are sweeter than those of the merlot and arrive late. Winemaker Erin Green notes that the 2008 reds have some light herbal qualities, "but nothing like the 2005s or 2003s, which were both more complex after five years in the bottle."