Coming from the cooler Alexander Valley, this wine is considerably leaner than its Napa counterparts. A pretty raw nose of blackberries, oak, with a palate of black and red cherries, a pleasant (IMHO) green edge, some tobacco and earth, and the prerequisite oak. It had a slightly grainy texture, and decent acidity with quite raw tannins. A bit disjointed and messy at the moment, but it could come together in a few years. I have tasted older vintages in the past and they have usually been better integrated with a much softer texture, so I definitely have hope for this one, but the price is a little disconcerting, especially if you buy it in a restaurant as we did. (03/10)
