4 | Wine | Napa Valley, 2008

"This classic Merlot opens with vibrant aromas of cherry, red plum, pomegranate, cardamom and forest floor. The aromas carry over onto the palate and meld with additional notes of milk chocolate, vanilla and dark spice. The tannins are supple yet have good grip, suggesting that this Merlot be served with hearty dishes such as rack of lamb, herbstuffed turkey or roasted duck in a cherry sauce."

"A tight, vivid, juicy, concentrated yet graceful youngster, focused on dense mineral, dark berry, currant and blackberry fruit, ending with chewy tannins and notes of espresso and spice. Comes on the heels of a 2007 that seemed out of sync with the vintage."

"The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a gorgeous, mid-weight wine laced with mint, cassis, sweet herbs and tobacco. It is an understated, gracious wine from start to finish. This is a relatively approachable vintage for the Estate. It shows tons of finesse and mid-palate generosity while maintaining a medium-bodied personality. Today it is quite young, although it is drinking well. Readers who prefer more tertiary notes will want to cellar the wine for at least a few years."

"The 2008 Madrona Ranch opens with an incredibly expressive bouquet. Espresso, mocha and licorice meld into dark red fruit and sweet exotic spices in this superb wine. The 2008 is an extraordinarily polished, refined wine for the vintage. Sweet spiced and floral notes reappear to round out the finish."