($115) Full medium ruby. Aromas of blackberry, graphite, licorice, tar and violet. Quite suave and bright on the palate, with an enticing inner-mouth lavender character lifting the dark berry, tar, fresh herb and bitter chocolate flavors. There's a firm acid spine for aging, but here the acidity is very nicely buffered by the wine's material. Finishes with firm tannins and lovely lift and precision. In comparison to this sample, the 2006 is much tighter and less pliant today-still in need of time to absorb its oak. This has turned out very well.

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The 2005 Estate Cuvee State Lane Vineyard is a 750-case blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc aged 20 months in new French oak. It exhibits incredible refinement, dark, medium to full-bodied flavors (earth, black currants, sweet cherries, licorice, truffles, and cedar), beautiful ripeness and purity, and a long, silky finish with no hard edges. Approachable now, it will last for 15 or more years. It is reminiscent of one of my favorite Bordeaux wines, Haut-Brion.

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Tightly wound, yet weaves together a complex maze of dried currant, savory herb, cedar, spice and loamy earth flavors that are intense, focused, young and compact. Needs time. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

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Great structure, smooth, not overwhelmingly powerful, but very clean. Not the greatest value for the price, but a very good wine.