2009 Andersons Conn Valley Right Bank

The 2009 Proprietary Red Right Bank offers up sweet dark cherries, mint, licorice, dried flowers, scorched earth and tobacco, all in a gracious, mid-weight style. A bit rough at first, the 2009 opens up beautifully with time in the glass as the aromatics find their focus and the tannins soften a bit. Ideally, the 2009 is best cellared for another fewyears, which should help the elements to come together a little bit more.Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027. I was quite taken with these new and upcoming releases from Todd Anderson and his team headed by Assistant Winemaker Robert Hunt. A number of these wines showed quite a bit better than they did last year. The Cabernet Sauvignon-based Eloge and the Cabernets Sauvignons are the highlights among the reds. Sadly, long-time winemaker Mac Sawyer passed away earlier this year, something that was quite a shock, as he seemed fine just the last time I saw him just a few months prior. There is one change to the range in that the wine previously known as the Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon is now called Signature. Either way, the 2009 and 2010 are both superb. Tel. (707) 963-8600

The 2009 Right Bank shows good up-front juiciness and sheer appeal in its red fruit, flowers, licorice and spices. This is a more supple, fleshy style than the 2008.