Pretty notes of powdered cocoa over black plum on the nose then lead to a spice box with nutmeg and cinnamon hinting at mole sauce, and some saddle leather and dusty earth in the 2023 BLOCK FIVE. A little more darker toned than some vintages, it is still boisterous on the palate with sweet dark cherries that fan out and reveal anise, and notes of coffee and cigar in a long finish that is persistent and youthful.

96+ points, Jeb Dunnuck

Starting out with deep dark tones rising from the glass, the 2023 PRADO has bright floral high tone black currant and mulberry fruit, violets, sandalwood and graphite with a tinge of iron red earth. Juicy black cherry compote turns to blackberry on the palate, with the wine showing power wrapped in elegance, and a seamless long finish that glides on unfurling layers of complexity over a pleasant acid backbone. 

"Based on 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Fortuna Vineyard and aged 19 months in 45% new French oak, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Prado offers beautiful blue fruits, candied violets, graphite, and some chocolaty, spicy wood nuances. It's full-bodied and has a pure, graceful mouthfeel, polished tannins and a greath finish. Drink this terrific 2023 over the coming 20 years. 245 cases produced. Drink 2-25-2045." - 96 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

"Coming from Frias Vineyard and aged 19 months in 54% new French oak, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva shows more black fruits, spicy oak, and graphite, with some dark chocolate and obvious minerality. It's medium to full-bodied, ripe, concentrated and beautifully textured, with building tannins and a great finish. There are roughly 245 cases produced, and it will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and drink over the following two decades. Drink 2027-2047."

95 points, Jeb Dunnuck

"Based on Cabernet Sauvignon and aged 19 months in 50% new French oak, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon SMD offers up currants, cassis, and black raspberries intermixed with chocolate, spring flowers, and graphite. It's medium to full-bodied and has a pure graceful, elegant mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins and a great finish. There are 349 cases produced, Keep bottles for 15 years if you're so inclined. Drink 2025-2040."

94 points, Jeb Dunnuck

Sourced from steep, rocky slopes bordeing Atlas Peak and Eastern Oakville, this high-elevation vineyard produces a Cabernet Sauvignon prized for its structure, depth and age-worthiness. It's a natural compliment to your Spring Mountain allocation and an excellent addition to your cellar. Only 123 cases produced.

97 points, Jeb Dunnuck

A summer garden of fruits and berries such as strawberry fills the nose, with pretty floral aromas following and even hints of berry patch leaves. On the palate, a burst of cranberry and raspberry overlay a juicy round wine with hints of sweet fruit that then turn into tangy notes of citrus on the finish.

An empty gift box that fits three bottles of wine.

An empty gift box that fits six bottles of wine.

Layers of dark fruits from brambleberries on top of spice cake, cedar cigar box and sweet pipe tobacco unfold on the nose. A concentrated attack of candied plum, black cherry and caramelized fig are part of the sweet and silky palate that is generous and long with a finish turning from currant to anise and showing a little grip and brightness.

Intense sweet dark fruits with brooding aromas of blueberries, cocoa, leather and fine antique wooden furniture, and then hints of lifted maple in the foreground are later complemented by black olive. The wine hits the palate with sweet fruits of raspberry turning to blackberry and the structure unfolds with a building finish that portends a long future of graceful aging.

 Lively and forward strawberry fruit roll up meld with tangy acid freshness

The wines spent 19 months in French oak barrels. The wines show the best of their vibrancy in the first decade--while being able to age longer--and in the short term benefit from being decanted to allow them to open up fully. Notes of cherry and baking spices with big chewy tannins and a nice plum, raspberry and dark cherry finish. 134 cases produced.