Cerro Sur, Napa Valley,

The 2014 Cerro Sur, 85% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, is deep garnet-brick in color. Notes of redcurrant preserves, blackberry pie, and plum pudding jump from the glass, with hints of iron ore, tilled soil, and wild sage plus a waft of cigar box. The full-bodied palate is mature yet still possesses plenty of energetic black fruits, with a firm, grainy texture and seamless acidity, finishing long and ferrous.

The 2014 Cerro Sur is gorgeous. Fresh, vibrant and beautifully delineated, the 2014 speaks to energy above all else. Floral notes from the Cabernet Franc give the wine its aromatic intensity and lift, but at the same time, the wine is weightless, precise and lifted. The 2014 could use another few years in bottle. Today, it is brisk and finely cut, not to mention striking in its beauty.