2006 Marston Family Cabernet Sauvignon

The dark purple-hued 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon displays lovely aromas of blueberries, acacia flowers, sweet earth, and spice. Deep and medium to full-bodied with a long finish, it reveals some of the ruggedly constructed tannins found in many of this vintage’s wines. This cuvee should behave well with some bottle age, but presently it is rustic and monolithic. Anticipated Maturity: 2010-2018. Readers may be familiar with this name as it is a 50-acre vineyard with most of the production sold to Beringer. However, some of the fruit from the lower elevations of Spring Mountain goes into estate-bottled Cabernets (250-300 cases produced). French guru Philippe Melka makes the wines at Marston Family. Tel. and Fax (707) 963-8490

(all fermented in 400-liter barrels) Full ruby. Wild, reduced nose offers blueberry, toasted bread, flint, tobacco and game, with a peppery nuance adding lift. Sweeter and more expressive than the 2005, with more fruit showing today. "My most Philip Togni style of wine," notes winemaker Philippe Melka. I would have described it as Pauillac-like. The tannins coat the teeth, but this one shows better balance and more length than the 2005.