1 | Wine | Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

"Bright ruby-red. Red berry and cherry aromas are brightened by cracked pepper and fresh flowers. A tangy midweight that offers fresh cherry and raspberry flavors, energizing acidity and a silky texture.Gains sweetness on the finish, with the peppery note repeating."

"This Cabernet Sauvignon displays elegant aromas of cherry and red raspberry along with sage and dried flowers. On the palate, the wine is extremely well balanced with silky tannins that carefully weave together the earthy, dusty nuances of this Bordeaux-esque wine. With some airing, the wine flushes out providing even more dimension and depth. The finish lingers with fine tannins that are very elegant and structured."

"For our 2010 Dry Creek Valley Merlot, we co-crushed the Merlot grapes with Petite Sirah to achieve dark fruit flavors and enhance the overall tannic structure in the wine. The grapes were destemmed, but not crushed, before being cold soaked to extract vivid color and intense flavors. We fermented this wine at warm temperatures, reaching 90°F for a few hours, to create a darker, riper fruit profile. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation and was aged on fine lees to soften the mouthfeel. This Merlot was aged for seven months in a combination of French and American oak barrels to impart notes of chocolate and vanilla in the finished wine."

"Jammy and lively, this red exhibits raspberry and cinnamon aromas that follow through to youthful cherry and smoky pepper flavors, which are still coming together. Needs time."

"The 2010 Lytton Springs possesses striking aromatics that meld into sweet dark plums and black cherries. The Lytton Springs shows more minerality and verve than the Geyserville, and appears to have handled the heat spikes of the year quite a bit better."

"Carignan, possesses a deep ruby/purple color and good acidity, and a more closed style than the Geyserville, with a firmer, more restrained overall personality." 91-93 pts Reviewed by Robert Parker.