2013 Pine Ridge Fortis

The other 2013 offered in my tasting was the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Fortis, which is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec and 3% Merlot. An absolutely spectacular offering from Pine Ridge and one of their all-time great Cabernet Sauvignons, this prodigious blend has an inky purple color to the rim and a gorgeous nose of charcoal, asphalt, graphite, blueberry, blackberry and cassis, while not a trace of oak seems to make it through. The wine is large-scaled, massively extracted, but not without balance. It offers layers and layers of fruit, superb richness, and a long, moderately tannic finish. This is a wine for patient connoisseurs that needs to be put away for a good 4-5 years, but it could have 30-35 years of upside potential in a cold cellar.