2008 Peju Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

(14.4% alcohol): Deep red with ruby tones. Musky aromas of cassis, plum, redcurrant, tobacco and earth, plus a whiff of menthol. Fat, silky and moderately sweet, showing a bit more mid-palate depth and riper tannins--not to mention sweetness of fruit--than this winery's 2008 Cabernet Franc Reserve bottling. Very fine-grained and easy to drink, with harmonious balancing acidity. Here the tannins arrive later, allowing the plummy fruit to expand and linger on the back end.