2008 Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon

(14.8%; mostly from the estate's Sacrashé vineyard in Rutherford): Deep ruby. Pungent if slightly weedy aromas of currant, coffee, cocoa powder, spices, menthol and herbs, plus a suggestion of port-like ripeness. Sweet, fat and spicy, with flavors of dark berries, earth and chocolate impinged on by a note of creosote. Densely packed if not especially refined, this broad wine finishes with dusty, slightly drying tannins. Has plenty of life ahead but I'm not sure that it will harmonize further.

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall is a juicy, voluptuous wine. Super-ripe raspberry, mocha, new French oak, plum and spice are all pushed forward in this lush, racy Cabernet Sauvignon. All of the Hall house signatures come through beautifully. As always, the Kathryn Hall is one of the more inviting wines in this range. The Kathryn Hall is a blend of fruit from Sacrashe and Hall's vineyards on Diamond Mountain and Atlas Peak. A dollop (8%) of Merlot rounds out the blend. (AG)

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall opens with intense crème de cassis, mulberries and plum preserves notions over hints of Chinese five spice, tapenade and smoky bacon, plus a touch of dried Provence herbs. Full-bodied, concentrated and powerfully fruited on the palate, it has a soft, inviting frame of fine-grained tannins and loads of spice and savory layers coming through on the long finish. (LPB)