($90; nearly half of the fruit was from Jayson Pahlmeyer's home ranch on Atlas Peak; 73% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot, 5% malbec, 4% petit verdot and 1% cabernet franc) Saturated bright ruby. Aromas of blackberry, black raspberry, minerals and loam are fresher and more focused than those of the 2000 merlot. Musky, juicy, rich flavors of black fruits, black licorice, minerals and mocha. Perhaps not as deep as some recent vintages of this wine, but offers solid structure. Finishes firmly tannic and sweet, with more obvious grip than the merlot.

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The 2000 Proprietary Red is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec, and 1% Cabernet Franc. Its dense purple color is followed by a sweet bouquet of blackberries, cassis, and smoky new oak, medium body, a ripe attack, and a narrow finish. This wine is excellent for the vintage, but it is blown away by its 2001 and 2002 counterparts.

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Wonderful richness, complexity and concentration, with layers of mouthcoating dark fruits centered around currant, plum, blackberry and even a trace of prune. Finishes with a long gush of ripe fruit and ripe tannins that ease into the elegant aftertaste. 1,440 cases made.

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