4 | Wine | What's On Sale, 2008

"Sweet red and black currant fruit, spice box and herb aromas jump from the glass of this dark plum/garnet-hued 2008. As in most vintages, this is an equal part blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Soft and complex, it should be consumed over the next 5-6 years." -Robert Parker

"The 2008 Reserva has dark cherry, cassis and graphite on the nose. The palate has a sappy nose with blackberry, raspberry and a touch of soy towards the finish. The tannins are ripe and quite “thick,” lending the 2008 admirable substance considering the vintage."

"Smoky, herb-accented aromas of cherry and redcurrant. Sappy and broad, with a supple texture to the bitter cherry and red fruit preserve flavors. Finishes lush and weighty, with notes of cherry pit and licorice. Quite rich but there's good back-end bite to this wine."

"Blended of Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro, the 2008 The Steading gives a deep garnet color and aromas of warm mulberries and dried plums with an undercurrent of spice box, sandalwood and kirsch. Very full and generous in the mouth with a good amount of enlivening acidity, it is displaying mature, dried berry and spice flavors textured with a medium level of velvety tannins and finishing long. Drinking now, it should remain good to 2016+."

"Expressive aromas of orange, mirabelle and wild herbs. Very expressive, sweet and full (this is 13.7% alcohol), with flavors of very ripe peach, vanilla cream, nuts and honey. Very young and concentrated wine, but a bit youthfully blurry with alcohol on the finish today." Reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

"The 2008 Howell Mountain is fabulous. Blackberries, savory herbs, graphite and mint are some of the nuances that are woven together in a fabric of notable class and sheer personality. The tannins are quite firm and suggest the 2008 will require considerable patience. Readers who can wait will be treated to a superb wine."

"It presents quite an earthy / chalky nose with restrained hints of lemon peel, lime leaf, white peaches and orange blossoms. Medium bodied, tightly wound and with a very good concentration of nervy flavors, it has crisp acidity and a nice suggestion of silkiness to the texture, finishing long and citrusy."